On October 22, the China Institute of Strategy and Management and the U.S. Brookings Institution jointly held the China-U.S. Strategic Forum on Clean Energy Cooperation. At the opening session of the forum, Zheng Bijian, Chairman of the China Institute of Strategy and Management, gave a keynote speech. Edited excerpts follow:
The China-U.S. Strategic Forum on Clean Energy Cooperation took place at a good time—in the midst of the UN Summit on Climate Change, the forthcoming visit of U.S. President Barack Obama to China and the Copenhagen Summit on Climate Change. It showed the concern for the safety of the Earth of scholars and business people in our two countries.
Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore had accepted the invitation to address the forum. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met him and other distinguished American guests. They had a good discussion on the issue of environmental protection and China-U.S. cooperation in the area of clean energy. Vice Premier Li Keqiang also met Mr. Gore and the American participants. The vice premier delivered an important speech at the forum's opening ceremony. All this shows the importance the Chinese leadership attaches to clean energy development and China-U.S. cooperation in this area.
The forum had two features—studies of the energy strategies of our two countries and ways we can practically cooperate. The discussion focused on the clean energy strategies of our two countries, convergence of our strategies and cooperation between our two countries' enterprises, regions and research institutions. It was not just a "talk shop," but also, more importantly, a "do shop." The message is loud and clear: Let us work together in clean energy development and in addressing climate change.
International context of clean energy strategies in China and the United States
The hot topic in the world today is how to address the relationship between peaceful development and environmental protection. An eco-friendly environment holds the key to the success of peaceful development. Undoubtedly, to preserve the environment calls for the resolution of a lot of complicated problems. One of them is the building of a culture of conservation that needs to be launched in the first half of the 21st century and continued throughout it. Such a culture will ignite a revolution linking energy, environment and climate.
This is surely a great undertaking bearing on the future of mankind. It will bring about significant changes in the relationship between humanity, nature and the tremendous progress in human civilization. It will also put to a severe test different economic and social development models and strategies of countries with different political systems and economic levels. In this context, countries urgently need to ensure energy security and meet the challenges posed by global warming. The issue of clean energy, and the larger issues of energy resources, environment and climate change, have thus become the central element in the country's development strategy and external cooperation.
Since taking office, President Obama has made energy and climate change one of the three priorities of his administration. He has urged legislation in related areas and undertaken to observe a timetable that will see a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. This is an adjustment of great significance that addresses humanity's concerns.
China, as a latecomer to modernization, has put energy and environment at the center of its development strategy. Our growing economy will cause us to face increasing pressure on our resources and environment in the 21st century. It is therefore essential, and even crucial, to quicken clean energy development for China's peaceful development. We have opted for a new type of industrialization. Our path of development aims at economic growth, improved livelihoods and a better environment. It is people-centered, comprehensive, balanced and sustainable development. To this end, a series of measures have been taken to optimize industrial structures and transform development modes and consumption habits. Not long ago, at the UN Summit on Climate Change, President Hu Jintao again explained to the international community China's strategy to promote a conservation culture and made serious commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, raise the percentage of renewable energy in the Chinese energy portfolio, improve energy efficiency and increase forest coverage.
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.
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