Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and Deputy Secretary of Energy Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall departed Beijing en route to Shanghai on Tuesday, April 14 after spending four days in China’s capital city.
Secretary Pritzker and Deputy Secretary Sherwood-Randall had the opportunity to engage with key Chinese government officials while in Beijing. Both met with Premier Li Keqiang and Vice Premier Wang Yang; Minister Wan Gang from the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST); Administrator Nur Bekri from the National Energy Administration (NEA); and Vice Chairman Liu He and Vice Chairman Zhang Yong of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) among other senior officials from the Chinese government.
These government-to-government meetings were important opportunities to steer progress on the historic announcements made by President Obama and President Xi in November 2014 and to build momentum on the road to the United Nations climate negotiations in Paris at the end of this year.
The China trade mission is a reminder of how countries can work to decrease carbon pollution while still growing their economies. It is also a clear example of how China and the United States can work together to solve the climate change challenge by creating economic opportunities.
The U.S. Department of Energy is proud to work in partnership with its counterparts in the Chinese government to find practical solutions to the pressing climate challenges our planet faces. Together, we are focusing on developing and deploying cutting edge energy technologies. Both U.S. and Chinese companies can be key partners in this effort as they bring the innovative products, services, and technological expertise needed to build the low-carbon, sustainable economies of the future.
Secretary Pritzker and Deputy Secretary Sherwood-Randall have continued on to Shanghai and will conclude the trade mission in Guangzhou before returning to Washington at the end of this week.