Green technology pact made with EU
Beijing urged to increase co-operation over energy, pollution and climate issues
China and the European Union signed an agreement yesterday on developing technology to reduce emissions from burning coal, as a top EU official called on the mainland to play a greater role in fighting climate change.
The memorandum of understanding would encourage the mainland to develop technology to capture and store carbon dioxide emitted from coal-fired power plants, officials from both sides said.
EU officials said the agreement marked the first stage of the development of the technology on the mainland and expressed hope the move could encourage Beijing to play a more active role under the Kyoto Protocol. China has no targets for controlling emissions under the protocol because developing nations received exemptions.
'We believe China should play a very active role in fighting environmental change. We really believe that to be successful in harnessing climate change it's important to get China to insert this new technology from the beginning,' EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs said after he signed the agreement with Vice-Minister of Science and Technology Ma Songde .
The mainland's rapid economic development and heavy dependence on coal, which accounts for 70 per cent of its energy production, has raised worries about competition for resources and the mainland's greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide.
Mr Piebalgs called for more co-operation between the EU and China in several areas, including energy efficiency, technology and renewable energy.
The EU and China signed agreements last March aimed at promoting clean coal technology and co-operation on energy efficiency and renewable energy. In September, the two sides agreed to hold a 'strategic dialogue' on energy and pledged to co-operate on climate change.
Mr Piebalgs played down fears over competition between China and Europe for oil and natural gas. 'With any energy-consuming country, generally we agree on main issues together ... then there is no basic misunderstanding,' he said.
Asked about a possible deal between Iran and a Chinese state firm to develop an oil field, which has drawn criticism from the United States, Mr Piebalgs declined to comment, saying he was unaware of the details.
