A senior Chinese official Thursday said that China and the United States have reached consensus in five major areas to step up energy and environmental protection cooperation during the on-going fifth round of the Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED).

Zhang Xiaoqiang, vice minister in charge of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), said the five areas are as follows.

First, the SED completed preparations to start cooperation in five areas: electricity, clean water, clean transportation, clean air and the conservation of forest and wetland ecosystems, mapping out plans and roadmaps.

China and the United States signed a 10-year energy and environmental protection cooperation framework in June during the fourth SED held in Washington, with these five areas as initial goals.

Second, both sides agreed that energy efficiency would be the sixth initial goal.

Third, the SED achieved agreement on a framework document for the green partnership project under the 10-year cooperation framework. It will be formally signed by Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan and U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson.

Fourth, institutions including China's NDRC and the China Exim Bank, as well as the U.S. Trade and Development Agency and the Export-Import Bank of the United States, will sign a memorandum of understanding on measures to support the 10-year energy cooperation.

Fifth, seven eco-partnerships from the two countries will sign letters of intent on cooperation. These agreements include one involving China's southwestern Chongqing Municipality, the U.S. city of Denver and car maker Ford on an electric and hybrid automobile project.

The two-day SED, which is to end on Friday, also covers macro-economic risks, trade challenges and the investment environment.

(Xinhua News Agency December 4, 2008)