China, US agree transition to green, low-carbon economy essential

• Source: Xinhua
• [14:19 November 17 2009]
• Comments

China and the United States signed a joint statement Tuesday after talks between Chinese  President Hu Jintao and his US counterpart Barack Obama,  agreeing that "the transition to a green and low-carbon economy is essential."   

Both China and the United States believed the clean energy  industry will provide vast opportunities for citizens of both  countries in the years ahead, said the statement signed during  Obama's first visit to China since taking office in January.   

According to the statement, the two sides welcomed significant  steps forward to advance policy dialogue and practical cooperation on climate change, energy and the environment, building on the  China-US Memorandum of Understanding to Enhance Cooperation on  Climate Change, Energy and Environment announced at the first  round of China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogues in July and  formally signed during Obama's visit.   

The statement said both sides recognized the importance of the  Ten Year Framework on Energy and Environment Cooperation (TYF) and are committed to strengthening cooperation in promoting clean air, water, transportation, electricity, and resources conservation.   

Through a new China-US Energy Efficiency Action Plan under  the TYF, both countries "will work together to achieve  cost-effective energy efficiency improvement in industry,  buildings and consumer products through technical cooperation,  demonstration and policy exchanges," said the statement.  

Noting both countries' significant investment in energy  efficiency, the two Presidents underscored the enormous  opportunities to create jobs and enhance economic growth brought  by energy savings.  

The two countries welcomed the signing of the Protocol Between  the Ministry of Science and Technology, National Energy  Administration of the People's Republic of China and the  Department of Energy of the United States of America on a Clean  Energy Research Center, according to the document.  

The Center will facilitate joint research and development on  clean energy by scientists and engineers from both countries. It  will have one headquarters in each country, with public and  private funding of at least 150 million US dollars over five  years split evenly between the two countries. Priority topics to  be addressed will include energy efficiency in buildings, clean  coal (including carbon capture and sequestration), and clean  vehicles.