U.S. to Push Green Diplomacy in China

Following U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Minister of Finance Gaertner, two additional senior U.S. government officials are due to visit Beijing. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke and Secretary of Energy Steven Chu will visit China July 14-17.

The U.S. stated that the purpose of this visit is to explore the possibility of collaboration with China to develop clean energy techniques. During their visit to China, the two secretaries will meet with Chinese leaders and government officials from various departments. The National Development and Reform Commission, the Commerce Department, the National Energy Bureau, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Construction and others are all expected to sign the Construction Energy Conservation Cooperation Memorandum, as well as the Clean Energy Development Cooperation Memorandum.

This occasion is worthy of attention because it is the first time in the history of Sino-U.S. relations that two American secretaries will simultaneously visit China. Moreover, the visit has been pushed two months ahead of schedule.

Just the timing of this arrangement is very significant. At the G-20 summit in London this year, both Chinese and U.S. heads of state agreed that “Sino-U.S. strategy and economic dialogue” should begin soon. A visit such as this one signals that such relations are beginning to be established. This visit will also lay the foundations for President Obama’s official visit to China in the second half of this year. Many analysts believe that Obama’s trip to China will emphasize collaboration between China and the U.S. in order to address the issue of climate change and achieve bilateral consensus prior to the opening of the global climate change conference in Copenhagen at the end of this year.

This travel arrangement also highlights the Obama administration’s new strategies for energy and climate change. As soon as Obama took office, he clearly distinguished his own policies for climate change from those of his predecessor. He believes climate change is a pressing issue that also affects national security and needs to be addressed. He intends to do so by signing a global climate change agreement. He also hopes to use his position as a global leader to call attention to the issue of climate change, promote “green diplomacy” and restore the previous international image and influence of his country.

As a democrat, he naturally pays more attention to environmental protection issues. However, he is trying to address the issue of climate change logically by simultaneously promoting the U.S. economy. The development of clean energy technology will allow the American economy to grow.

U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu has been involved in research on climate change for some time now and was once awarded the Nobel Prize for physics. He is scheduled to lecture at Tsinghua University on July 15, and is expected to discuss the need for the U.S. and China to tackle global warming together. Steven Chu once expressed his opinion that it would benefit both countries to promote the use of renewable energy, increase energy efficiency and reduce pollution. He suggested that they explore their options to ensure mutual benefits and profits for both.

Gary Locke, the former governor of the state of Washington, will fulfill his role as Secretary of Commerce during this visit. Unlike Minister of Finance Gaertner, who came to China to sell U.S. national debt bonds, Gary Locke will promote the sale of American green technology in the Chinese market. He will likely attempt to demonstrate that the use of this solar, wind and hydro-energy technology, in addition to other renewable energy sources, will reduce carbon dioxide emissions.