WASHINGTON, Jan 16 (Reuters) - The United States signed an agreement with Slovakia on Friday to advance cooperation on the central European country's nuclear energy program, a plan they said would help reduce its reliance on Russian-designed reactors.

The agreement includes the development of a state-owned 1,200-megawatt nuclear unit of U.S. design at the Jaslovske Bohunice Nuclear Power Plant that would be bigger than existing units.

Slovakia, which currently has five nuclear power reactors at two plants, has been in talks with Washington since last year to build a large plant with nuclear developer Westinghouse.

"Today’s civil nuclear agreement reflects our shared commitment to strengthening European energy security and sovereignty for decades to come," said Energy Secretary Chris Wright at an event at the agency's headquarters in Washington.

Slovakia Prime Minister Robert Fico said the agreement was a "clear signal that Slovakia and the United States are united by a common strategic thinking about the future of energy – about its safety, sustainability, and technological maturity.”

Westinghouse is owned by Canada-based Cameco CCO.TO and Brookfield Asset Management BAM.N.

(Reporting by Valerie Volcovici and Timothy Gardner; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)

((timothy.gardner@thomsonreuters.com;))