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Sep 13, 2006 -- M2 PRESSWIRE
Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling has strengthened the energy relationship between the UK and China by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Mr Ma Kai, Chairman of the Chinese National Development and Reform Commission. The MOU builds on the success of the China-Britain Natural Gas Working Group, creating a China-UK Energy Group that will provide: * a framework for both Governments to broaden cooperation to all upstream and downstream energy sectors, including renewable energy and energy efficiency. * a forum for government energy policy discussion, particularly in the area of energy security and for UK and Chinese energy companies to develop beneficial partnerships in the energy sector. Alistair Darling, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry said: "We need to ensure the world's resources are used efficiently and that sufficient clean energy is produced to meet global demand. Promoting the most efficient technologies available and accelerating the development of new technologies will be crucial in tackling climate change and managing demand of energy. "The UK and China are already cooperating on technology developments but there is more to do. Today's signing of the MOU will deepen engagement with China's energy sector, expanding our working from gas to wider energy sources, and this will broaden discussion about commercial opportunities, policy and regulation. It will also further strengthen the current excellent trade and commercial relations between the two countries. "With China's re-emergence as an economic and political power, combined with the gathering pace of globalisation, it is vital for the UK to have a close and productive relationship with China. This is why the Government is now committing more resources to China alongside other emerging markets." In addition to today's Energy MOU signing, an agreement to establish a UK-China climate change working group was also signed by Environment Secretary David Miliband and Ma Kai. The working group will enable progress to be made on key issues. It will help feed into and shape discussions and activities under the Gleneagles Dialogue, the EU-China Partnership on Climate Change and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Notes: 1. The Natural Gas Working Group was set up in 2001. Since its conception, the Group's sponsored activities have enabled significant sharing of technology and best practice between the UK and China in a number of areas: regulation and de-regulation; privatisation; liberalisation; competition; safety; prices; environmental issues; technology transfer; security of supply; storage and training. This has involved Government-to-Government discussions, and the involvement of Industry, both large companies and SME's. 2. The Energy MOU provides for the creation of a China-UK Energy Working Group that will meet annually to explore opportunities for mutual cooperation in the energy sector. Meetings will be focussed on a business agenda, but there will be discussions on policy issues of importance to both sides. The UK side will be led by UK Trade & Investment, the government organisation that provides integrated support services for UK companies engaged in overseas trade, and foreign businesses focused on the UK as an inward investment location. 3. In July 2006, Trade & Industry Secretary Alistair Darling launched UK Trade & Investment's new five-year strategy, 'Prosperity in a Changing World', putting the organisation at the heart of Government efforts to maximise the UK's ability to attract foreign direct investment, win market share in the new high growth economies including China and India, and help business internationalise in a globalised world. For more information, please visit http://www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk M2 Communications Ltd disclaims all liability for information provided within M2 PressWIRE. Data supplied by named party/parties. Further information on M2 PressWIRE can be obtained at http://www.presswire.net on the world wide web. Inquiries to info@m2.com. News Provided By |
