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Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, NDRC Chairman Zhang Ping Explore Avenues to Expand U.S.-China Clean Energy Ties

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Thursday, May 20, 2010

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Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, NDRC Chairman Zhang Ping Explore Avenues to Expand U.S.-China Clean Energy Ties

Locke introduces U.S. business delegation to top Chinese officials

On the first day of the final stop of U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke’s clean energy trade mission to China, Locke met today with China’s National Development and Reform Commission Chairman Zhang Ping. With a delegation of 24 U.S. clean energy companies in tow, Locke and Zhang discussed ways to continue to build a constructive and cooperative relationship that increases economic growth, trade and jobs in the United States and China, and explored avenues to expand U.S.-China ties in clean energy development. 

After their meeting, the two leaders were joined by the business delegation for a discussion about ways to improve U.S.-China collaboration in areas such as energy efficiency and electric energy storage, transmission and distribution. 

“The American business leaders are finding that there are promising opportunities for U.S.-China joint ventures in clean energy here in Beijing and in other Chinese cities,” Locke said. “These types of projects will generate jobs for American workers back home and help both the U.S. and Chinese economies grow.”

Locke also introduced the business delegation to Vice Chairman Zhang Guobao, the National Energy Administration Administrator, Vice Minister Ma Xiuhong of the Ministry of Commerce, and Vice Premier Li Keqiang. In his meetings with the Chinese leaders, the Commerce Secretary advocated on behalf of American companies that have pending commercial clean energy deals that would support U.S. exports.  

The American firms also held one-on-one meetings with Beijing-based businesses to explore new business opportunities in clean energy.

The trade mission aims to advance President Obama’s National Export Initiative, which is focused on doubling U.S. exports within five years to support job growth. This is the first Cabinet-level trade mission of the Obama administration.