The United States said on Friday that it looks forward to working with new Ukrainian Prime Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov and strengthening bilateral relations.

"We congratulate the prime minister on his confirmation. We look forward to working with him and to working with his cabinet as we strengthen bilateral relations between the United States and Ukraine," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said at a briefing.

"We are also ready to assist the new government in advancing its goals of consolidating and expanding reforms, particularly in the economic sphere, and integrating into the Euro-Atlantic structures," McCormack said.

The Ukrainian parliament confirmed Yuriy Yekhanurov on Thursday as Ukraine's new prime minister. Yekhanurov was picked by Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko after the ouster of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

Source: Xinhua