02.17.09

Cantwell Urges Increased Partnership Between U.S. and China on Energy Challenges and Opportunities

During Keynote Address at U.S.-China Energy Forum, Cantwell Discusses Job Creation and Economic Opportunities for U.S. and China During Keynote Address at U.S.-China Energy Forum, Cantwell Discusses Job Creation and Economic Opportunities for U.S. and China

BELLEVUE, WA – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) addressed the U.S.-China Clean Energy Forum in Bellevue. As the world’s largest energy consumers and importers in the world, the U.S. and China have an opportunity to work together to develop and implement clean energy technologies that will help our country’s economies and create jobs. Cantwell was joined by Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong; this marks his first trip to Washington state.
 
Cantwell has long made increasing the dialogue between the U.S. and China a priority. Last week, Cantwell sent a letter to President Obama urging him to establish a cooperative, mutually-beneficial bilateral agreement between the United States and China on ways to reduce pollution and promote the use of cleaner, more diverse sources of energy. 
 
This is the third official meeting of The U.S. – China Clean Energy Forum, which Cantwell helped organize. The week-long conference features Chinese and American government, business and research leaders aiming to develop recommendations as to how the two countries can increase the development of clean energy technologies and partner together to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
 
[Cantwell’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, follow below]
 
Good morning! What a distinguished group we have here today.
 
I’d especially like to welcome Mr. Gao Guangsheng, from the National Development and Reform Commission’s Office of Climate Change; Dr. Ling Jian, the Vice President of the Energy Foundation; Our other Chinese friends from the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) Energy Research Institute; Dr. Jonathan Woetzel is here from McKinsey and Company; and Mike Davis, from the Pacific Northwest National Labs. 
 
We are proud to have one of the world’s leading scientific research institutes right here in Washington state and I understand our Chinese visitors very much enjoyed their visit there a few days ago. 
 
This important gathering is a long time coming and we have so many to thank for pulling it off. 
 
This is the third time we’ve come together under this Forum to build bridges between our two great nations and find mutually-beneficial solutions to our common energy challenges.
 
We all know the U.S. and China are the two largest energy consumers AND importers in the world. Together we consumer one-third of the world’s total oil – that’s more than the next top ten nations combined – and emit more than 40 percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions.
 
The good news is that clean energy technologies can provide solutions for both nations. Especially as both our countries face serious economic and energy challenges: A robust bilateral partnership has the potential to catalyze the development, and drive down costs, of a diverse array of clean energy technologies and best practices including smart grid technologies; electrification of our transportation systems; next generation biofuels from non-food feedstocks; and the next generation of products yet to be invented. 
 
And by working together we can explore ways to develop and promote clean energy technologies that will benefit the international economy and the world’s environment for years to come. 
 
But I have to be frank with you, the idea that it’s in the best interest of both our nations to work together to find cleaner energy sources does not come naturally to some. Too many of my colleagues in Washington DC see China as a source of competition and friction, instead of a partner that we can cooperate with to boost both our great nations.
 
Thankfully, I know that the leadership in China gets it. 
 
Back in 2006 when I traveled to Beijing and met Vice Minister Zheng he readily accepted my invitation to begin discussions and to meet in Seattle. 
 
Based on that understanding, I am proud of the progress we have achieved since my visit to Beijing.
 
I spoke with former Treasury Secretary Paulson and Ambassador Holmer to stress the importance of ensuring that energy and environment played a prominent role in the Strategic Economic Dialogue talks.
 
That led to senior officials from nine American and Chinese agencies coming together at Gig Harbor --right here in Washington state-- in February of 2008 to discuss and create the 10 year Energy and Environment Cooperation framework for a partnership between the U.S. and China.
 
It’s a partnership that I know will be beneficial for both our countries and I believe will continue to grow under the Obama Administration.
 
As you probably know, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in Asia this week, underscoring the strategic importance of the region.
 
I spoke with Secretary Clinton right before her trip to thank her for going to Asia and to reemphasize the importance and opportunity of cooperating with China on clean energy solutions. 
 
I can tell you, Secretary Clinton gets it.
 
And I believe Hillary will be the Obama Administration’s point person on U.S.-China relationship, so that’s very important.
 
I have also talked to Energy Secretary Chu at length about this and I can tell you he gets it as well.
 
Last week I also sent a letter to President Obama along with 14 of my Senate colleagues urging him to establish a cooperative, mutually-beneficial bilateral agreement between the United States and China on ways to reduce pollution and promote the use of cleaner, more diverse sources of energy. 
 
And while I reminded our new President that great progress has been achieved over the last few years --through efforts such as the Strategic Economic Dialogue, the Ten Year Energy and Environment Cooperation Framework, and the Asia Pacific Partnership – I stressed the urgency of doing more.
 
I look forward to working with both Secretary of State Clinton and President Obama on our bilateral efforts. Because the shared economic, environmental, and security challenge we face in remaking our nation’s energy system may only be tackled if we join hands and work together. 
 
On the private sector side, the U.S.-China Clean Energy Forum was formed under the leadership of: Former United States Trade Representative Carla Hills Ambassador Richard Holbrooke; Former United States Trade Representative Mickey Cantor; and our very own Star Barer and Dennis Bracy.
 
Ever since, the American private sector and National Development and Reform Commission’s Energy Research Institute have been working hand in hand to develop the pre-recommendations that we are here today to discuss.
 
I am impressed with the initial recommendations developed in the working group meetings in Beijing in October, and I understand these recommendations were strengthened significantly during yesterday’s working sessions.
 
The working groups will be presenting those joint recommendations this afternoon, and I look forward to hearing the reactions and advice we will receive from the distinguished leaders assembled here today.
 
While there are tremendous opportunities for U.S. – China clean energy cooperation, challenges remain. From certain export control regulations and intellectual property issues to financing, there are obstacles to closer cooperation that must be overcome. 
 
We must work to eliminate tariffs on renewable energy and environmental goods and services and open markets around the world.
 
As the recent Pew Center-Asia Society roadmap document notes, for example, equitable partnerships must be built on shared understanding of common but differentiated responsibilities that reflect awareness of each country’s unique roles, abilities, and stage of development.
 
Our partnership must also enable close, long-term cooperation in the development of new energy technologies, while also recognizing that the U.S. and China will remain competitors in the global marketplace.
 
Finally, we must ensure that strong bilateral cooperation between the U.S. and China is a catalyst for, rather than a deterrent to, an effective multilateral regime to address climate change.
 
With entrepreneurial drive of the private sector and the determination demonstrated that by your hard work, I am confident we will get there. As President Obama has said, it is time to recognize the urgency of now. We must seize this moment to build a cleaner more prosperous future together.
 
I wish you good luck as you move ahead with discussions of your preliminary recommendations and look forward to receiving the final recommendations that will be presented in Beijing later this year.
 
When one of my predecessors, former U.S. Senator from Washington state Warren Magnuson, led the first Congressional delegation to China after diplomatic ties were reestablished, he said: “pretending 700 million people in the world do not exist is the wrong approach.” 
 
Today China’s population is almost twice as large at 1.3 billion people. And what Senator Magnuson said is twice as important.
 
It is time to see the great promise in our common interests and time to work together on shared challenges and opportunities involving energy and the environment.
 
Thank you for ongoing commitment to continuing this important dialogue and helping the world move toward a more sustainable, affordable, cleaner energy future.
 
Today is another day that will be remembered as a turning point for US-China relations. And I am proud to be a part of it.
 
I wish the working groups the best of luck with their day & look forward to hearing their preliminary recommendations that will be the basis for the final recommendations we make in Beijing in June.
 
Thank you.
 
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