Chinese Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan said in Beijing Monday that China and the United States share broad prospects of cooperation in the field of energy.  

Zeng made the remark during his meeting with US Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing Monday afternoon.

He expressed the wish that the two countries would strengthen exchanges and further expand the breadth and depth of energy cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual benefits.

Zeng said the Chinese government places high importance on optimizing the structure of energy supply as it maintains a rapid economic growth. He said China would spread the use of energy saving technologies, safeguarding energy security and reducing the impact of energy consumption on the environment.

Zeng said China would actively expand the capacity of hydro and fire-powered electricity generation, while developing unclear power in a proper scale. China would also support the development and application of clean coal technology and arduously develop new and renewable energy. He said the country would gradually set up and perfect an oil reserve system.

Abraham spoke highly of China's achievements in the development of the energy sector. He expressed the hope that the two countries would continue to achieve new results in their exchanges and cooperation in the field of energy.

During another meeting Monday afternoon with visiting Deputy Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh of Laos, Zeng said the Chinese government places importance on the development of all-around cooperation with Laos and holds positive attitude toward the expansion of trade and economic cooperation with Laos.

He said China is ready to further develop the friendship between the two countries according to the guidelines of long-term stability, good-neighborly friendship, mutual trust and all-around cooperation.

Zeng said China supports and encourages Chinese enterprises who have strong financial strength and good reputation to conduct various forms of cooperation in Laos.

Bouasone said the Laos government sticks to the "one China" policy and always holds that Taiwan is part of China. He said the so called referendum is aimed to seek Taiwan independence and against the will of the Chinese nation as a whole.

(Xinhua News Agency January 13, 2004)