Lots of animosities were there in the earlier decades between them but the compulsion of new economic order has brought both China and the United States nearer and the greatest specimen of this camaraderie is the joint research effort to produce more fuel-efficient vehicles and buildings launched by both recently. It is to be noted that China and the United States are world’s two largest emitters of greenhouse gases blamed for global warming.
Speaking on this U.S. Energy Secretary Stephen Chu said at a press briefing with Chinese officials, “I know we can accomplish more by working together than we can by working alone.” He also added that the United States and China would commit an initial $15 million to the project, which will also concentrate on new technology to lessen and seize carbon dioxide emissions from burning coal. Both countries depend heavily on coal, the most carbon-intensive fossil fuel, and would likely do so for some time to come, he said.
Both Stephen Chu and U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke are Chinese-Americans and the duo have focused on the necessity to encourage energy cooperation with China. What makes China so important? It is not only an Asian giant and potential superpower but has recently surpassed the United States as the world’s biggest emitter of greenhouse gases also. Both countries, if taken into account, form approximately 40 percent of the carbon dioxide pumped into the air each year.
Nevertheless, necessity of cooperation between the two countries is the need of the hour if the noble initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is to be fulfilled. “Both sides expressed the will … to meet the global challenges to address climate change and the energy shortage,” said Wan Gang, China’s minister for science and technology.
Working on “the fuel-efficient cars of tomorrow” and other clean energy projects will also create millions of jobs in both countries, Chu added.
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