Washington  - The United States and Colombia on Thursday signed an agreement to cooperate and share technology on the development of alternative and renewable energy.

The two governments agreed to promote exchanges and work together on research and development, including on using sustainable biofuels, generating more private sector investment in the technology and increasing the role of business.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Colombian Foreign Minister Jaime Bermudez signed the agreement at the State Department in Washington ahead of a Saturday meeting between presidents George W Bush and Alvaro Uribe. (dpa)