China and U.S. hold landmark clean tech meeting

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met with a U.S. official trade mission in Beijing on Monday and called for stronger cooperation between the two countries on renewable energy and environmental protection.

Addressing a delegation led by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, Li (pictured) said: “China is accelerating a new type of ‘people-oriented’ urbanisation plan, which offers a huge market for the advanced technology and management experience of the United States.”

The trade delegation is made up of 24 U.S. business leaders in the clean technology sector and is the first-ever presidential trade mission sent to China by the Obama administration.

Pritzker told Li that the delegations visit shows how important the U.S. government considers its trade ties with China and whilst Li suggested that U.S. technology, regulation and experience should be combined with Chinese equipment and industries to jointly explore third markets.

Li highlighted how China is aiming to improve strategic trust and cooperation with the U.S. and work together more effectively on regional and global challenges.

Li urged for the two nations to agree a bilateral investment treaty (BIT) to reach a “high-level and balanced” agreement as quickly as possible.

The reforming and opening-up of China’s policy and its commitment to World Trade Organization (WTO) regulations will continue, according to Li and “China will continue to open wider to the world and will have a more transparent and predictable market.”

The Chinese premier also called on the U.S. to ease high-tech exports to China and take effective measures to make Chinese investment in the U.S. more convenient.

Xi Jinping, China’s President, is scheduled to make a state visit to the U.S in September this year when the energy cooperation could be addressed further.