Russia gives to APEC fund for climate change, disasters

Russia on Thursday signed an agreement to give 500,000 dollars to an Asia-Pacific fund to combat climate change and disasters.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described the donation to the Support Fund of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) as an "initial contribution."

The fund was set up by the 21-member forum in 2005 to fund projects around the region. A growing number of APEC members have contributed, with China last year donating two million dollars.

The Russian contribution would go to helping finance early warning systems for natural disasters, as well as disaster management, climate change issues, improving use of energy resources, and tackling food shortages.

Additionally, Lavrov said, "it remains of vital importance to enhance initiatives to counter terrorism through public-private sector partnerships."

"We expect other APEC member economies to become contributors of these activities as well."

The money was signed over in a brief ceremony after a meeting of APEC foreign ministers that prepared a weekend summit of leaders from the forum.