General James L. Jones, USMC (Ret.), at the Institute's U.S.-China Energy Forum in Beijing

5/20/08


Thank you, Director General Han, for those opening remarks.  It’s an honor to be co-hosting with you the “First U.S.-China Forum on Sustainable Energy and the Environment.”

This meeting, which we hope is the first of many discussions between U.S and Chinese government and business officials, is a unique opportunity to exchange ideas and discuss areas of cooperation in the fields of energy and the environment, the two biggest challenges facing our countries in the 21st Century.

Before beginning our program, I would like to take a moment and express our deepest sympathy to the families who lost loved ones, and for all the people who were injured and whose homes and communities were devastated, in the tragic earthquake last week in Sichuan Province.  This was a major natural disaster, the effects of which will alter people’s lives for years to come.  We mourn the loss of life, and extend our best wishes to those recovering from injuries and rebuilding their lives.

Our forum is being held while China is in a three-day period of national mourning for those killed and injured.  We respect the feelings of the Chinese people, and all the people of the world, who mourn the victims of this monumental natural disaster.  We are therefore much indebted to the Chinese government for allowing us to continue with our proceedings over the next two days.  This willingness to proceed demonstrates the importance the government places on cooperation between our two countries in the fields of energy and the environment.  We are looking for ways to enhance the quality of people’s lives for decades to come, even though our meetings take place at this time of tragedy and sadness.    

I would like to extend a warm welcome to everyone, and especially thank those people who traveled great distances to be with us.  Your presence is evidence of your understanding of the need to address the world’s pressing energy needs and environmental challenges.  Your presence also indicates an appreciation that the United States and China, working together, can play leadership roles in finding global solutions to ensure adequate supplies of clean, affordable energy, while respecting the concerns of the environment and climate change.
 
I would like to thank the National Development and Reform Commission and the Energy Research Institute for making this event possible.  A year ago, Foreign Minister Yang  and I discussed the energy challenges facing our two countries, and how a forum of business and government leaders could deepen our understanding of each other’s problems and lead to greater cooperation in resolving them.

Follow-on discussions with the NDRC and the Energy Research Institute led to our being here today.  In particular, I’d like to thank NDRC’s Vice Chairman Zhang and Director General Han for their vision and leadership in putting this forum together.

We’re pleased that our forum is endorsed by our two governments, and that the results of our discussions will be used in direct support of the U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue.  The fourth SED meeting will be convened next month in Washington, D.C. and will include energy and the environment on its agenda.  It’s very important that the private sectors of our two countries get involved in the implementation of the Ten-Year Action Plan that has been developed to encourage greater cooperation.  For that reason, we’re pleased that we’ll be able to link the results of our energy forum with the important work being carried out by our governments.

Areas of Cooperation

Energy presents the U.S. and China – and indeed, the whole world –   with unprecedented economic and national security challenges.  While the United States and China are two vastly different countries, energy and the environment can be, and should be, unifying factors as we seek mutual solutions to our common problems.  Together, our countries account for 35 per cent of the world’s energy consumption and 40 per cent of the greenhouse gas emissions.  By addressing these issues, we have more to gain – and more at stake – than other countries.

Over the next two days, this forum will produce many ideas on ways we can work together.  Let me suggest three broad areas in which we might seek cooperation – by looking for ways to, first, diversify our energy sources; second, promote clean energy technology; and third, achieve greater energy efficiency.

Energy Diversity

To meet our rising energy demands over the next several decades, the United States and China must diversify their sources of energy.  This will lead to greater energy security for our individual countries as well as collectively.

For example, both countries depend heavily on oil imports – the United States imports 60 per cent of its oil from abroad, and China 50 per cent.  To reduce this dependency, we need to diversify the mix and types of fuels we use, especially in the transportation sector.  By the year 2030, China will have 270 million vehicles, more than seven times the traffic today.  Americans will continue to depend heavily on cars as their preferred mode of transportation.  We need, therefore, to work together to look for advanced automotive technologies to allow our cars to operate more efficiently and cleaner.

Clean Technology     

One of the biggest challenges facing all nations is to find ways to reduce carbon emissions and, thus, protect the environment.  The greatest emitters of carbon are fossil fuels, on which both our countries are heavily dependent.

Our electricity sectors are heavily dependent on coal.   Half of America’s electricity is generated from coal, and three-quarters of China’s.  For that reason, we need to find new and affordable ways that will allow us to continue using coal in efficient and environmentally sound ways.

A common solution to reducing carbon emissions in the production of electricity is the increased use of nuclear power.  The United States and China have much to gain by cooperating in the field of nuclear power.  Specifically, we can work together by sharing information on nuclear power plant construction and operations, cooperating on parts and materials, and standardizing high quality assurance programs.  We also need to move toward Generation IV reactors to reduce nuclear waste, the production of weapons-grade materials, and the long-run potential for uranium shortages.

Energy Efficiency

Both countries realize the need to use our energy resources more efficiently.  Efficiency is a source of energy, as well as a way to reduce demand.

Cooperative research and development is a necessary approach to obtain the technological innovations required to sustain economic growth and use energy more efficiently, at the same time as reducing the potential for harmful effects on the environment.  Technology and equipment for increased efficiency and joint projects on renewables are necessary components of our strategies.  To advance technological cooperation, for example, we need to address trade issues and examine tariffs and other trade barriers, which will be part of the discussion on the third panel tomorrow morning.   

Conclusion

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s a pleasure to be here and an honor to be hosting these discussions.  The Institute for 21st Century Energy was created last year with a mission to engage in the international energy debate and to foster greater cooperation among nations in addressing the world’s energy and environmental challenges on a global scale.  The First U.S.-China Forum on Sustainable Energy and the Environment goes a long way in helping us achieve those goals.

Click to Print

Subscribe to RSS Feed