WASHINGTON: US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and Energy Secretary Steven Chu will travel together to China next week to boost US clean technology exports, the US Commerce Department said on Monday.

Gary Locke, Secretary of the US Department of Commerce gives the keynote address at the National Summit June 16, 2009 in Detroit, Michigan. [Agencies]

"As China confronts climate change, there will be opportunities for American green technology companies to fill a critical need, creating jobs here and helping to curb pollution in China -- a win-win for both counties," Locke said in a statement announcing the July 14-17 trip.

Both countries are major players in UN talks aimed at reaching a new climate pact by the end of the year in Copenhagen.

Both are the first Chinese-Americans to hold their current jobs.

"Clean energy will drive the economy of the future, both in the United States and around the world," Chu said.

"Working together, we can accomplish more than acting alone. It's in our interest and China's to explore ways to cooperate for our mutual benefit - by promoting renewable energy, encouraging energy efficiency and cutting pollution," Chu said.