Beijing (Platts)--16Jul2009

US Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Commerce Secretary Gary Locke met
Thursday with Chinese Premier Wen Jiaobao to discuss energy cooperation
between the US and China and job growth in the two countries.

The meeting ended three days of visits with senior Chinese leaders and
energy officials. Chu told reporters the talks left him encouraged that the
two countries can make more progress together on energy and the environment.

"I've come away with a sense that China is committed to reducing its
energy intensity, reducing its growth in use of energy and in reducing its
carbon footprint, as is the US," Chu said at a news conference with Locke at
the US Embassy in Beijing.

Chu and Locke also addressed concerns that China may be using
protectionist schemes to cut foreign renewable-energy companies out of the
Chinese market.

Locke said he and Chu told Wen that it was crucial to have a
"level-playing field" in selling renewable-energy equipment in China.

Chu also underscored the importance of cooperative research, and hinted
that it could help short-circuit concerns over unfair competition, pointing to
a US-China research agreement announced Wednesday.

"We want to do the research together, and when we do research together,
we both own it," Chu said.

Separately, DOE said Thursday that the two countries had signed a
memorandum of understanding to work closer on energy efficiency in buildings,
including exchanging experts and sharing information about what new techniques
and technologies work best.

The US and China also plan to cooperate on demonstration projects and
analyze government policies on energy use in buildings, the department said.

--Derek Sands, derek_sands@platts.com