China and the US must take leading roles in clean energy development and fighting climate change, US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said today in an exclusive interview with the China Daily.

"It is important for China and the US to work together to become the leaders of the entire world for clean energy, energy efficiency and fighting climate change," he said. After all, he noted, the two countries will produce more greenhouse gas emissions in the next 50 years than the past 150 years combined.