China, Japan start forum on energy saving cooperation

TOKYO, May 29 (Xinhua) -- China and Japan started a forum on energy saving Monday in Tokyo, aiming to enhance the two countries ' cooperation on energy efficiency and environment protection.

At the opening of the forum, visiting Chinese Commerce Minister Bo Xilai said China has set a goal of lowering energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product by 20 percent by the end of 2010 as against 2005 levels.

"I expect this forum will form a basis for a win-win relationship between industries of the two countries," he said.

Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Toshihiro Nikai said "Japan survived two energy crises since the 1970s and has endeavored to build an energy-saving and environmental-friendly society,"

Nikai hoped to share the experience with China and, by doing that, construct new cooperative relations between the two countries. He briefed on Japan's practice in lifting energy efficiency through law, taxation, education, pricing system and others.

Japanese Environment Minister Yuriko Koike said Japan and China face common environmental challenges and called for cooperation in various areas.

The two countries signed several documents on energy saving cooperation on Monday morning.

"Increasing exchanges on the (energy and environment) fields would open new areas of cooperation for China and Japan and help forge new common interests for the two countries," Wang Yi, Chinese Ambassador to Japan said at the opening.

In times of difficulties of political ties, cooperation in energy and environmental issues would "provide new momentum to the improvement of Sino-Japanese relations," Wang added.

Some 780 government officials, business representatives and academics from the two countries are taking part in the three-day forum.

Participants are to discuss on industrial sectors including steel, automobiles, cement and fuel cell. The Chinese delegates will visit Japanese power plants and recycling facilities to learn Japanese experiences in increasing energy efficiency and conserving environment.