By Zhang Ming'ai

China and the US need to enhance cooperation on renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies in the face of inevitable climate change and global warming, senior US officials said in Beijing yesterday.

US Trade Secretary Gary Locke speaks at a joint press conference with US Energy Secretary Steven Chu held at the US Embassy in Beijing on July 16, 2009. [Zhang Ming'ai/China.org.cn]

"If our two countries take the lead, it will create jobs and long term economic growth in what is perhaps the most promising industry of the 21st century. It will help prevent catastrophic effects of climate change," US Trade Secretary Gary Locke said at a joint press conference with US Energy Secretary Steven Chu held at the US Embassy in Beijing on July 16, 2009.

"There is 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.

Locke expressed his view that the future is not predetermined and that China and the US have both the ability and the responsibility to chart an alternative path. But he said it will require unprecedented bilateral cooperation between US and China to meet the world's energy challenges.

Locke also praised China's efforts in developing renewable energy and in fighting climate change. He said China is taking unprecedented measures in fighting climate change, and is a model for other developing countries. He noted that China is planning to build the largest wind project on earth.

The US officials said that in an earlier meeting with Wen Jiabao, the Chinese Premier talked about technology transfer and said that China is eager to utilize the latest and best technologies from around the world.

Locke and Chu both said the US should cooperate and share technologies to help China meet challenges in energy efficiency, energy conservation and alternative energy sources. But they emphasized that both countries should respect intellectual property rights.

US Energy Secretary Steven Chu speaks at a joint press conference with US Trade Secretary Gary Locke held at the US Embassy in Beijing on July 16, 2009.[Zhang Ming'ai/China.org.cn]

Chu said that cooperation between the two countries is imperative to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. He said China and the US should conduct joint research on energy-efficient buildings, fuel-efficient cars, and other methods of reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

However, Locke also noted that China and the US still have some differences over the issue of a carbon tax.

Both Locke and Chu said that their visit to China had been a fruitful one.

(China.org.cn July 17, 2009)