BEIJING, Dec. 12 (UPI) -- China said it will work with the United States on energy development.
"There could be great potential and fat opportunities for both countries in improving coal efficiency and promoting clean energy," said Ma Kai, minister of China's National Development and Reform Commission.
Chinese officials will meet with U.S. delegates during the China-U.S. Strategic Economic Dialog, which opens Wednesday.
Ma urged both sides to find new ways for joint energy development. The U.S. advanced technologies and experience to improve coal efficiency and develop clean energy are valuable assets to rapidly growing China, he said.
The two countries recently signed a number of agreements, including pacts on energy cooperation, at the China-U.S. Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade, Chinese news agency Xinhua reported.
"As two of the world's largest consumers of oil, this document may help reduce each country's dependence on imported oil, benefiting both U.S. and Chinese consumers," the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a statement.
