Remarks at EcoPartnerships Ceremony
Remarks
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Diaoyutai Club House
Beijing, China
May 3, 2012
Thank
you very much. It is an honor for me to be here. And Vice Chairman,
thank you as always for your leadership and support of the efforts that
we are launching today.
I just came from an exhibit of cookstoves that are manufactured and
used here in China. And that illustrates how we can work together to
meet the challenges we face – sometimes in very big ways like working on
agreements, but sometimes in smaller, equally significant ways like
working through the Global Alliance on Cookstoves that China has just
joined.
It also means working not only at our national government level but
also with state and local governments, the private sector, and civil
society. Last January, together we created the U.S.-China Sub-National
Initiative. It has already sparked dozens of joint efforts between
states in China and the United States on issues ranging from trade and
investment to job creation. Some of our most successful partnerships are
working to answer a question that is very important to both of our
countries, and it is this: How can we meet our shared need for
affordable energy while also preserving our environment?
We already have 13 EcoPartnerships, and today we are launching five
more. One will connect experts on two of our nation’s most precious
resources, the Yangtze and Mississippi Rivers. They will exchange ideas
about restoring ecosystems. Two other partnerships will pair researchers
working to develop electric cars. Two more will help development
environmentally friendly cities and create exchange programs for local
officials who work on environmental issues.
So if you combine the good news that Councilor Dai gave me that China
is joining the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves with the
EcoPartnerships, I think once again our cooperation is really paying
dividends for the people of both our countries and the world. This
illustrates once again that the United States and China can and will
work together in new ways and through many channels to address our
common challenges on energy and the environment, two issues that
transcend politics that we live with every single day in our homes, our
businesses, and our communities.
So congratulations to all the members of our new partnerships, and
thank you for doing work that will benefit the generations to come and
strengthen the relationship between the American and Chinese people.
Now I’m told we’re going to take a picture, which is even the best part. (Applause.)
