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China, U.S. Sign MOU on Energy, Climate Change, Environment Cooperation
2009-07-30 21:56

 

On July 28, 2009, China and the United States signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on enhancing cooperation in climate change, energy and environment.

China's State Councilor Dai Bingguo and U.S. State Secretary Hillary Clinton, who chaired the "Strategic Track" of the China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) in Washington D.C., attended and addressed the signing ceremony in the U.S. State Department.

Dai said that the issues of climate change, energy and environment are high on the agenda of this round of China-U.S. strategic and economic dialogue. After repeated consultations, the representatives of both sides finally reached agreement on the text of the MOU based on the spirit of building understanding, expanding consensus, developing cooperation and seeking win-win outcome. Dai said that the signing of the MOU was "an important outcome" of this round of dialogue.

Dai said the issues of climate change, energy and environment are grave challenges facing both countries. "The Chinese government attaches great importance to carrying out dialogue and cooperation with the U.S. on energy, climate change and environment," said Dai. "Despite differences between our two countries in the basic national conditions, stage of development, historical responsibilities and our respective capacities, there exist conditions, common will, the necessity and broad basis for enhancing China-U.S. dialogue and cooperation on these areas," Dai told the ceremony.

Dai called on both countries to view their dialogue and cooperation on climate, energy and environment from a "strategic and long-term" perspective and handle well the relationship between their commonality and differences in the process of dialogue and cooperation under the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities." He called for joint efforts of both sides to actively expand consensus and cooperation, push China-U.S. cooperation in these fields to a new level and make important contributions to coping with global climate change, ensuring energy security and protecting environment and the home earth.

U.S. State Secretary Hillary Clinton said that the MOU was built on "past efforts for energy, climate change and environment cooperation, and highlights the importance of climate change in our bilateral relations by creating a platform for dialogue and cooperation on climate change." "It also provides our countries with direction as we work together to support international climate negotiations and accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy," Clinton said.

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu also delivered a speech. He said China and the U.S. share a lot of common interest in developing clean energy and coping with climate change, saying he was pleased that these issues "come in the heart" of the U.S.-China strategic and economic dialogue . He said energy and climate change concern the economic and security interests of the two countries and their actions within the following decades in this area will influence the future of the world.

The first round of China-U.S. strategic and economic dialogue was held in Washington D.C., capital of the U.S. from July 27 to 28, 2009. The two countries carried out in-depth exchanges, communications and discussions on the strategic and long-term issues with overall importance in the fields of political security and economy. Dai Bingguo and Hillary Clinton co-chaired the strategic track of the dialogue, while the economic track was co-presided by Chinese Vice Premier of the State Council Wang Qishan and U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Franz Geithner.

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