China, Japan ink energy deals in Beijing

Over 40 deals on energy conservation and environmental protection are signed during the 8th China-Japan Energy Conservation Forum in Beijing on Dec 28, 2014. [Photo: gb.cri.cn]

China and Japan have signed over 40 different collaborative agreements on energy conservation and environmental protection.

The deals have been inked at a bilateral forum held in Beijing.

The meeting is the first time the two sides have met to discuss environmental cooperation in the last 2-years.

Xie Zhenhua is the vice-chair of the National Development and Reform Commission.

"We welcome Japan's involvement in China's energy conservation and environmental protection industries through investment, joint technological development, and technological cooperation. We'll resume the program that sends Chinese personnel in the energy conservation sector to Japan for training."

The latest figures suggest the energy conservation and environmental protection sectors in China are going to be worth a combined 720 billion US dollars this coming year.

Ma Jun with the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs says Japan has a lot to offer in terms of new technology.

"Japan has advanced technology when it comes to industrial energy saving. With its well-adapted technology and quality management, Japan's energy consumption can be largely reduced. Its energy consumption per unit is often a small fraction of what it is with its Chinese counterparts in the same industry."

The latest figures suggest the energy conservation and environmental protection sectors in China are going to be worth a combined 720 billion US dollars this coming year.