China, US ink deals on energy efficiency

BEIJING - China and the United States signed a package of agreements on energy efficiency projects on Wednesday, a move expected to deepen energy cooperation between the world's two largest economies.

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The deals include a program of distributed energy to be piloted in a 20-square-km international tourism resort zone in Shanghai, signed between General Electric (China) Co Ltd and a Shanghai-based new energy company.

Other deals include a program to jointly train personnel specializing in energy efficiency management, one on a low-carbon eco-city in China, and another project featuring consulting services for improving corporate energy efficiency.

The deals were signed during the fifth China-US Energy Efficiency Forum, which opened in Beijing on Wednesday.

China and the US are the world's top two energy consumers and carbon dioxide emitters.

China's energy consumption for per unit of its gross domestic product (GDP) more than triples the average level of developed countries, said Xie Zhenhua, deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission, who attended the forum.

David Danielson, assistant secretary of the US Department of Energy, said the two sides will evaluate the newly signed projects, discuss energy efficiency standards, and seek new opportunities in trade cooperation.

The forum has been held annually since 2010.