China and the United States on Wednesday announced the establishment of a joint clean energy research center.

The announcement came after a meeting between Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong and U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Commerce chief Gary Locke, who are making their first visit to China since becoming cabinet members of the Obama Administration.

The center is a concrete step to flesh out the agreement reached in April when Liu visited the United States.

It will be established by China's Ministry of Science and Technology and National Energy Administration and the U.S. Department of Energy.

"As major energy producers and consumers, China and the United States are complementary in energy technology," Chinese Science and Technology Minister Wan Gang said at the press conference Wednesday afternoon.

"With a focus on coal and clean buildings and vehicles, the center will provide the platform and support to Chinese and U.S. bodies involved in bilateral energy technology collaboration," Wang said.

Both countries would commit initial financing of 15 million U.S. dollars and set up headquarters in both countries, Wang said.

"Clean energy is one of the great opportunities of our time. I know we can accomplish more by working together than by working alone," U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu said.

In the earlier meeting, Liu traced China-U.S. science and technology cooperation to an agreement signed by Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping and U.S. President Jimmy Carter in 1979, the first year of diplomatic relations.

"The science deal was one of the first China-U.S. governmental agreements, which laid a solid foundation for bilateral cooperation in a wide-range of fields," Liu said.

Under its framework, both governments regarded bilateral collaboration as an important measure to deal with climate change, energy crises and the economic downturn, Liu said.

Over the past 30 years, both countries signed a number of agreements on fossil fuels, energy efficiency and renewable energy, she said.

Liu highlighted China's efforts to address energy and environmental challenges and climate change. "It is our fundamental state policy to save energy and protect the environment."

Liu hailed the new joint clean energy research center as "a pillar for bilateral collaboration on energy, science and technology.

Source: Xinhua

http://paper.people.com.cn/rmrb/html/2009-07/16/content_296902.htm