Chinese, EU energy sectors interconnected

• Tweet

BRUSSELS, May 4 (UPI) -- Energy choices that European and Chinese leaders make will have global effects because of the size of their economies, an official said from Brussels.

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang met in Brussels with European Commission President Jose Barroso. Barroso, addressing a high-level meeting on energy policy, said the European and Chinese economies were the two largest in the world.

In terms of energy, he said, the European market was valued at $815 billion. With such a global presence, said Barroso, the decisions each government makes will have sweeping consequences.

"This is particularly true of energy," he said. "Energy is one issue where there is clear global interdependence, where our planet is truly interlinked."

Europe has adopted a plan to increase the share of renewable energy in its energy mix, improve energy efficiency and cut emissions by 20 percent of their 1990 levels by 2020. Barroso said this meant the European economy was at the cusp of a third industrial revolution in terms of a greener economy.

Chinese and European officials, during the meeting, agreed to extend their partnerships in electricity and energy security.

"The choices we make today have a global impact and will be felt I am sure for generations to come," said Barroso. "China and the EU therefore share a global responsibility."