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China Seeks Energy Cooperation with the United States

“There could be great potential and fat opportunities for both countries in improving coal efficiency and promoting clean energy,” Ma Kai, minister of China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and director of the State Council Office of The National Energy Leading Group, said ahead of the high-profile China-US Strategic Economic Dialogue.

The Third China-US Strategic Economic Dialogue, which was held December 12–13, 2007, in Beijing, aimed at seizing opportunities brought by economic globalization and meeting the challenges posed by the same.

As the second biggest trading partners for each other, China and the United States regard their cooperation as crucial.

In terms of energy consumption, the two countries have much in common: both are big energy consumers; both depend on energy imports; and both are rich in coal resources. The United States has advanced technologies and experience to improve coal efficiency and develop clean energy, which are valuable to China.

During the past five years, the coal consumption of China has doubled, mainly due to the vigorous increase of power supplies. The majority of these power supplies was not used for civic electric consumption, but assisted the development of new steel factories, cement factories and aluminum factories.

Almost 70 percent of China's energy consumption came from coal in 2006. The Chinese Government had been promoting the use of a variety of clean energy sources to reduce its reliance on coal, as well improving its energy efficiency and pollutant control.

Governments at all levels in the country have created strict industrial energy consumption indicators in recent years; while constant, rapid economic growth keeps exerting pressure on resources consumption.

According to Ma, to set up strategic relationships with the United States in every aspect of energy, including electricity, coal, petroleum and gas, renewable energy and energy efficiency, is of great significance for the future development of China's economy. He urged two sides to find new ways for joint energy development.

The NDRC had drawn up a guideline with dozens of suggestions on cooperation with the United States in power generation, coal, petroleum and natural gas, renewable energy, as well as energy conservation and environmental protection, in a bid to boost joint energy development.

Ma said the joint energy development between the two countries would be mutually beneficial. It would help China improve energy consumption structure, reduce greenhouse emissions and cut pollutant discharges, and also bring commercial benefits to the US side. Most important of all, China and the United States by their actions or through inaction will largely determine how much climate change we have in the 21st century.

马凯：能源合作可成为中美经贸合作新增长点

文/刘声

看清潜力，加强合作

从冷静应对国际油价提升，到言词驳斥“中国能源威胁论”，作为一国发展和改革决策领头人的马凯为应对中国能源战略难题屡屡出招。2007年12月13日，第三次中美战略经济对话之际，马凯表示，中美两国在提高煤炭利用效率和发展清洁能源方面具有很强的发展潜力和巨大商机，能源合作不仅可成为中美经贸合作新的增长点，也有利于减少环境污染和温室气体的排放。

马凯认为，中美作为互为第二大贸易伙伴国家，互惠互利的合作是非常重要的。中美两国的能源结构有很多相似之处，两国都是能源消费大国，都需依赖能源进口，两国国内都具有丰富的煤炭资源。美国目前对能源效率非常关注，不论是电器标准、汽油标准，还是提高工业能效，美国都有许多经验可与中国分享。

目光长远，实现共赢

过去5年，中国主要燃料——煤炭的消耗量翻了一番，主要原因是电厂建设猛增。这些电厂更多的不是用于家庭消费，而是为了促进大量新建钢铁厂、水泥厂和铝厂的发展。政府为工业制定了严格的能耗指标，并试图对机动车实施欧洲燃油标准。然而，尽管付出了这些旨在减缓消耗的努力，中国持续强劲的经济增长，仍然意味着能源消耗将不断上升。因此，马凯认为，在能源方面与美国等大国建立长远的合作关系，对于中国未来的经济发展至关重要。从推动经济可持续发展的角度看，中美两国在加大能源与环保领域合作的潜力非常巨大。

国际能源署预计，从2007年起到2010年一段时间内，中国废气排放量将超过美国。发展清洁能源和提高能源尤其是煤炭的使用效率，不但成为最大最急切的需求，也将产生很多机会，同时必将带来迅速与多样化的环境收益。美国在提高煤炭使用效率和发展清洁能源方面具有领先的技术和较丰富的经验，也是中国现在的环境保护工程中急需的。对此，破解过诸多能源难题的马凯感受最深，他认为，中美能源环保合作不但能够帮助中国改善能源结构，减少温室气体排放和环境污染，也能使美国先进环保节能技术有广阔的商业化价值，实现双方共赢。

积极推动，确保中美能源合作顺利进行

为了保证中美能源合作的及早顺利进行，马凯建议中美双方尽快启动能效合作。同时，为了推动双方在能源领域内的各项合作，国家发改委制定了《中美能源环保合作指南》，在电力、煤炭、石油天然气、可再生能源和节能环保五个领域提出了34项合作倡议。鉴于中美双方就开展生物质能领域的全面合作已经基本达成共识，马凯希望《中美生物质能合作协议》签署以后，双方能尽快明确合作团队，制定工作计划，积极推进生物质能合作。

随着美国能源部副部长塞尔表示将积极削减中美有关能源高技术贸易领域的保护壁垒，加强双边合作，以及中美两国企业间《绿色煤电有限公司增资认购协议》的签署，双方将以中国丰富的煤炭资源为燃料，利用先进的煤炭技术，为中国千家万户和企业供电。虽然推动中美能源合作的道路还很漫长，马凯对此却充满希望。

Ma Kai, minister of China’s National Development and Reform Commission

马凯，2003年3月至今任国家发展和改革委员会主任。负责政策研究工作，分管政策研究室。兼任国务院西部地区开发领导小组办公室主任，国家能源领导小组办公室主任。