China, U.S. Cooperate on Nuclear Security, Green Olympics

BEIJING, China, January 13, 2004 (ENS) - China and the United States have agreed to cooperate on nuclear nonproliferation and security and on environmentally friendly technologies for the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008.

Zhang Huazhu is chairman of the China Atomic Energy Authority. (Photo courtesy CAEA)

The two countries pledged to strengthen export controls, international nuclear safeguards, physical protection of nuclear materials and facilities, nuclear emergency management, and radioactive source security by setting up information exchanges and training programs. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said the agreement will exert a positive influence in the region and the world.

Green Olympics for Beijing

On Monday, officials from both countries signed the Green Olympic Protocol for Beijing’s 2008 Olympic Games.

Abraham joined China’s Science and Technology Minister Xu Guanhua and Beijing’s Vice Mayor Fan Boyuan at a ribbon cutting ceremony for the first energy efficient building demonstration project in Beijing. It is expected to encourage greater use of clean energy technologies for the 2008 Olympic Games, and throughout China.

U.S. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham (Photo courtesy Independent Petroleum Association of America)

“The United States and China face similar challenges and exciting opportunities in the energy sector," he said. "I hope that the Green Olympic Protocol for Beijing’s 2008 Olympic Games we are signing today will further deepen our joint efforts to improve Beijing’s air quality and environment.”

The United States and China are the two largest energy consumers in the world and energy security and environmental protection are important priorities for both countries, Abraham said.

The United States and China have established 11 teams to cooperate on a Green Olympics since the U.S. Department of Energy and the Beijing Municipal Government signed a Statement of Intent in 2002.

Cooperative projects have been set up for natural gas technology; fuel cells, hydrogen, and electric vehicles; green building rating systems; energy and resource planning for the Olympic Park; intelligent transport systems; an energy efficient demonstration building; air quality; weather monitoring and forecasting; water pollution control; clean coal technologies; and the Beijing-Chicago friendship cities initiative.

To brighten the Chinese capital's smoggy air 1,000 electric buses are planned, and sensory traffic devices will be installed that automatically set signal times according to the level of traffic.

Beijing Olympic Committee officials break ground for the National Stadium, December 24, 2003. (Photo courtesy Beijing 2008)

The heating, ventilation, air conditioning and firefighting systems in the stadium will adopt non-freon media to protect the ozone layer. Designs for heat preservation and insulation have been optimized, and a geothermal heat pump will supply additional heating, cooling and hot water.

Water use will be optimized with high quality recycled water, and all construction and decoration materials used will be energy saving and environmentally friendly. The stadium will set up adequate devices for gathering and processing solid wastes so as to achieve an optimized level of waste recycling.

Lights On in the Philippines

Secretary Abraham flew out of Beijing today and landed in Manila, Philippines where he signed a memorandum of understanding with Philippine Energy Secretary Vincent Perez to strengthen the $5 million Sustainable Energy Development Program between the two countries and to promote the use of cleaner burning fuels in vehicles.

Philippine Energy Secretary Vincent Perez (Photo courtesy Office of the Secretary)

While in the Philippines, Abraham participated in a Lights On ceremony for the Alliance for Mindanao Off-Grid Renewable Energy (AMORE) Program, which aims to bring electricity to more than 5,000 homes of former rebel soldiers in 160 remote, conflicted communities by December 2004.

The AMORE program presently supplies electricity to more than 2,500 households in 84 communities through renewable energy systems. Mirant Philippines, the largest U.S. energy firm investor in the Philippine power sector, is providing equipment worth some $3.2 million. In addition, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is strengthening the ability of local communities to operate, maintain and protect the renewable energy systems. USAID's share in the project comes to $6.4 million.

"The provision of a clean, stable supply of electricity allows children to study in the evening, helps mothers take better care of their families, and supports the operation of microenterprises," Abraham said.

The energy secretary departed Washington last week on travels to Tokyo and Osaka Japan; Beijing, Manila, and will wind up his Asia-Pacific journey later this week in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia.