WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Department of Energy Acting Deputy Secretary Jeffrey Kupfer will participate in the U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED) as part of the U.S. Delegation led by Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson, Jr. The talks will take place December 4-5, 2008, in Beijing.

Kupfer’s participation in the fifth Cabinet-level meeting of the SED will focus on strengthening U.S.-China collaboration in addressing the challenges of energy security and climate change. The U.S. Department of Energy has taken the lead in working with China to develop two energy-related action plans under the SED’s Ten Year Energy and Environment Cooperation Framework, one on Clean, Efficient and Secure Electricity Production and Transmission and the other on Clean and Efficient Transportation. The Department is also working with China on addressing energy efficiency under the Ten Year Framework. In addition to the SED meeting, Kupfer will participate in an Oil and Gas Industry Investment Roundtable with U.S. and Chinese organizations and corporations.

“The U.S. is committed to working together with China to tackle some of the most important energy challenges the world faces today, including cultivating sufficient investment in energy production, transportation, and use; developing and deploying new energy technologies; and, addressing the greenhouse gas emissions from producing and using energy,” Kupfer said. “The U.S. and China are the world’s largest energy consumers and are expected to remain the top two oil consumers in the world for the foreseeable future. The actions of the U.S. and China are critical for addressing global energy issues. Through U.S.-China partnerships and bilateral discussions, we can make significant progress on these issues while sustaining economic growth.”

The Strategic Economic Dialogue was launched by President Bush and President Hu in September 2006.

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