China and the US should strengthen cooperation on the aspect of clean energy, US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke told a press conference today, one day ahead of the 20th Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) held in Hangzhou, east China’s Zhejiang province.

One subject for the JCCT is to introduce American energy enterprises to Chinese clean energy markets, Locke said.

“American enterprises own advanced technology while China has huge potential demand for clean energy,” he added.

According to reports, the Bureau of Commerce of China and the US Trade and Development Agency plan to sign a memorandum regarding smart grid, renewable energy sources, energy saving buildings and clean energy technology.

During the 2009 JCCT, Chinese and American officials will participate in a high-level annual plenary meeting as well as review progress made by a large number of working groups convened throughout the year. The goal is to bring Chinese and US officials together to engage in detailed discussions of specific trade issues. Examples of these groups include the Insurance Dialogue and the Information Industry Working Group.

China was the second largest supplier of US good imports in 2008 (after Canada) and was the third largest market for US exports in 2008 (after Canada and Mexico). US goods exports to China were $70 billion in 2008, up 330% since 2000. Trade in services with China (exports and imports) totaled $23.0 billion in 2007 (latest data available); services exports were $14.2 billion and services imports were $8.8 billion.

The China-US Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) was established in 1983 as a forum for high-level dialogue on bilateral trade issues and a vehicle for promoting commercial relations. The JCCT is co-chaired by the US Secretary of Commerce and China’s Vice Premier and enjoys strong interagency support on both sides. The Commission consists of three working groups covering trade and investment issues, business development and industrial cooperation, and commercial law, as well as a side dialogue on export controls.

By Lency