China: US Officials Call for Clean Energy Cooperation

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Commerce Secretary Gary Locke arrived in Beijing on Tuesday.

Their three-day visit is focusing on breaking down barriers between U.S. and Chinese clean energy sectors. 

And it also sets the stage for President Barack Obama’s possible visit to China later this year.

U.S. officials said on Monday that they are pressing China to lower tariffs on clean energy technology.

Commerce Secretary Locke says focusing on green energy would help China fend off the effects of global warming, benefit its economy and boost employment.

[Gary Locke, U.S. Commerce Secretary]:
„So focusing on cleaning up the environment, focusing on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, actually creates thousands, and thousands, and thousands of good paying jobs for the people of China.”

Chinese officials took Locke to tour a hydroelectric power plant that uses US technology, as well as an American manufacturing plant that produces low-emissions motors.

Locke says the factories demonstrate the benefits of cooperation between the two nations.

[Gary Locke, U.S. Commerce Secretary]:
„So these are win-win opportunities between China and the United States, using American technology know-how, but using Chinese workers to build these products and creating a better environment for the people of China.”

In recent years, China has become the world’s largest emitter of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases thought to be responsible for global warming.

(NTDTV)