WIND ENERGY DEAL: China Shenyang Energy Group, the U.S. Renewable Energy Group and U.S. Sky Wind Energy Co. Ltd. sign a $1.5-billion investment agreement for wind energy cooperation on October 29, the largest to date for sustainable energy between the two countries (ZHANG YAN)

In respect to the clean energy strategy and environmental protection, both China and the United States have set their goals, directions and roadmaps. This is a good basis for more intense energy cooperation between our two countries.

Areas of China-U.S. cooperation in clean energy

China and the United States have different national conditions and are at different stages of development. Our energy structures and consumption levels are also different. But we face the same challenges in global climate change and similar problems concerning international energy resources. Therefore, we have a shared interest in promoting a clean energy strategy. It is not only possible but also necessary for China and the United States to transcend our differences in energy and environmental development strategies and enter into strategic and practical cooperation. We can cooperate in the following four areas:

- Saving energy and energy efficiency. In recent years, both China and the United States have set a number of binding quotas for reducing energy intensity. Our two countries have made significant investments in developing super-low-energy-consumption buildings, energy-efficient means of transportation and efficient grid technology. There exists great potential for our bilateral long-term cooperation.

- Development and application of clean-coal technology. Our two countries are the biggest consumers of coal. China is working on applying and disseminating technologies for super-critical power generation and carbon capture, sequestration and storage. The United States has experience and long-term research and development in clean-coal technology. There are good prospects for strategic cooperation in this area.

- Development of new energy resources and renewable energy. Following their respective strategies, both China and the United States are putting enormous funds and R&D resources into the application of wind, solar and bio-power technology. Nuclear power is the priority in China's new energy development strategy and the United States has leading nuclear-power technologies. There are a great deal of business opportunities in this area.

- Security of the international energy market. In the first half of the 21st century, even if our two countries fulfill our respective goals of energy conservation and emissions reductions, we shall both remain the world's major fuel importers for a long time to come. We need to strengthen our strategic cooperation in protecting international energy market security, promote a stable international energy-pricing regime and consolidate our energy security safeguard systems.

Cooperation is crucial to China's peaceful rise and China-U.S. relations

China's peaceful rise will face three challenges—energy resources, environment and social problems. The first two, energy resources and the environment plus climate change happen to be our common concerns. In humanity's efforts to protect the Earth, our common home, and build a sound environment, the way we act to implement our respective energy strategies and the way we interact with each other on energy issues have a bearing on China's peaceful rise, America's economic growth and the peaceful and eco-friendly development of the whole world.

China is devoting great efforts to building a low-carbon economy and developing green technologies by focusing on energy-technology innovation, development and application. We reject the unrestrained consumption of energy resources at the expense of the environment. With regard to energy resources, we stand for mutually beneficial cooperation with other countries and regions rather than taking away their energy resources by plunder or war. Peace, common development and environmental protection remain our commitment. Cooperation is the only choice for China in tackling the energy and environmental challenges it faces in the first half of the 21st century, as well as to guarantee China's peaceful rise.

Energy cooperation between China, the biggest developing country, and the United States, the biggest developed country, is an important aspect of the "positive, cooperative and comprehensive" relationship between the two countries. Stronger and more intense energy cooperation that produces tangible results will strengthen the foundation of our relations, contribute to our common development and build a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity.