January 20, 2005 On the occasion of Prime Minister Paul Martin's visit to Beijing, China, Canada and the People's Republic of China have decided to promote cooperation to increase energy security and promote environmental sustainability in the energy sector. Such cooperation has the potential to cover a broad range of energy issues, including sources of supply, energy efficiency and new technologies. In particular, the two countries have identified oil and gas, nuclear energy, energy efficiency, and cleaner energy (including renewables) as priority areas where they will work together to advance their longer term mutual interests, in accordance with their respective laws and regulations. Canada and China have decided to work together to promote cooperation in the oil and gas sector, including Canada's oil sands, as well as in the uranium resources field. Canada and China will therefore encourage Canadian and Chinese enterprises to develop mutually beneficial commercial partnerships in these sectors. In addition, China and Canada will encourage and push forward joint comprehensive research and study of oil sand technologies. Canada and China have a history of successful collaboration in the nuclear energy sector. As well, both have extensive capabilities in nuclear research. The two countries will encourage Canadian and Chinese enterprises to expand commercial partnerships in this sector, and will conduct research on the development of advanced nuclear energy technologies and related issues to improve the cost and safety of nuclear energy systems. Canada and China are committed to promoting energy efficiency and cleaner energy (including renewables). In addition to ongoing policy dialogue through existing mechanisms, Canada and China will actively encourage and support governmental organizations and agencies, academic and research institutions, non-governmental organizations, state enterprises and the private sector to establish and strengthen linkages and pursue joint projects and initiatives in these areas. The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of the People's Republic of China and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) will maintain regular dialogue and exchanges of views on activities pertinent to this framework through the Canada-China Joint Working Group on Energy Cooperation, under the auspices of their 2001 Memorandum of Understanding Concerning Cooperation in the Field of Energy. -30- PMO Press Office: (613) 957-5555
