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China-US climate teamwork evolving

By Wang Linyan and Zhang Haizhou (China Daily/Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-07-17 09:06

US Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke (right) and US Secretary of Energy Steven Chu shake hands after a joint press conference in Beijing yesterday. [China Daily]

Cooperation between China and the US is crucial in meeting the climate change challenge. That was the message from a joint press conference held by US Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke and US Secretary of Energy Steven Chu yesterday.

Both were visiting China for the first time as part of the Obama administration.

"There's so much for our economies to gain by forging new ties in the clean energy sector and so much to lose if we fail," Locke said. "The US and China have what it takes to meet the world's energy challenge. It'll be great if 100 years from now the history books say the US and China's collaboration saved the planet from the irreversible climate change."

Chu said there is much the countries can do, including improving technology to reduce carbon emissions and increasing energy efficiency.

"One of the most important things is mutual cooperation; to share, as best we can and as many things as we can, the technology," Chu said.

The objective of the planned joint clean energy research center, he said, was to allow the nations to work together on efficient buildings and better cars and find ways to capture carbon dioxide and look for clean ways to use coal, which both China and the US have in abundance.

The planned center was announced on Wednesday and will be established by China's Ministry of Science and Technology and National Energy Administration and the US Department of Energy.

Chinese Science and Technology Minister Wan Gang said both countries would commit an initial $15 million to set up headquarters in both nations.

Locke said Chinese leaders raised concerns about carbon tariffs during their meetings.

"The United States are not trying to curb or limit the growth of China and certainly do not want to say that any of the developing countries must make drastic changes so that Americans can continue with their excessive use of energy, so we can continue to produce greenhouse gases," Locke responded.

Premier Wen Jiabao also emphasized the importance of collaboration on trade and energy when he met Chu and Locke yesterday.

"As a crucial part of China-US relations, our trade and energy cooperation is important for both countries' economic growth and sustainable development," Wen said in a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry.

Related readings:  Premier Wen meets US cabinet chiefs on trade, energy  China expects US to play due role on climate change  Steven Chu: US ready to lead on climate change  China, US launch joint research center on clean energy

With the China-US Economic and Strategic Dialogue set for Washington on July 27 and 28, Wen said the countries must make the most of the opportunity.

"In a spirit of openness, innovation and mutual benefit, both should respect each other and consult equally to bolster cooperation and benefit both nations as well as the international community," Wen said.

The new dialogue mechanism grew from the first meeting between President Hu Jintao and US President Barack Obama in April.

Zhang Tuosheng, a scholar at the China Foundation for International and Strategic Studies, said the two US officials' visit is a warm-up for the upcoming dialogue in Washington and Copenhagen climate change conference.

"The US may hope that China could support it in terms of emission reduction," he said.

Pang Changwei, from China University of Petroleum, said Beijing should "pay attention to" the pressure form Washington.

He referred to the US' carbon tariffs proposal as an example of Washington pressing China over global warming.

The US Clean Energy and Security Act, passed by Congress on June 26, empowers the government to penalize trading partners that fail to meet US emission standards.

China hopes the US will shoulder responsibility in responding to climate change, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said at a separate press conference yesterday.

"We welcome the recent positive changes in US policy on climate change," Qin said, referring to Obama's remarks at the meeting of leaders of emerging economies in Italy.

Obama said rich countries had a responsibility to take the lead in climate change. Developed countries also agreed to increase resources and provide financial assistance to help developing countries deal with warming.