Press Release

Public Affairs Section

American Embassy, Beijing

Tel: 65321161 Fax: 65322951

 

United States Department of Energy Press Release

Monday, January 12, 2004

Energy Secretary Abraham, Beijing Energy Minister

Sign Green Olympic Protocol

BEIJING, CHINA - Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham joined China's Science and Technology  Minister Xu and Beijing's Vice Mayor Fan today to sign the Green Olympic Protocol for Beijing's 2008 Olympic Games. 

Secretary Abraham was in Beijing for a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the first energy efficient building demonstration project in Beijing that will lead to more widespread use of clean energy technologies in Beijing, particularly for the 2008 Olympic Games, and throughout China.

"This energy efficient building in Beijing demonstrates how the U.S. and China can work together to promote clean energy solutions," Secretary Abraham said.  "The Unites States and China face similar challenges and exciting opportunities in the energy sector.   I hope that the Green Olympic Protocol for Beijing's 2008 Olympic Games we are signing today will further deepen our joint efforts to improve Beijing's air quality and environment."

The United States and China are the two largest energy consumers in the world and energy security and environment protection are important priorities for both countries.

The United States and China have established 11 teams to move forward on Green Olympics cooperation since a Statement of Intent was signed between the Department of Energy and China in September, 2002.   Two Joint Working Group Meetings were also successfully held in Beijing in 2002 and 2003 and have developed proposals for cooperation.  The protocol signed today will transform the Statement of Intent into a legally binding international agreement.