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concept more fully with some of your officials during my visit here.

In addition, China's demand for energy supplies is increasing as economic
modernization progresses. The Three Gorges Dam project will provide
China with the world's largest source of hydroelectric power, but its
environmental costs may be severe. China will also need to rely on imported
energy from foreign sources. Preserving access to the world's energy resources
is a goal that is in the interest of both our countries. We should work together to
find ways of providing for China's energy needs without sacrificing the natural
environment.

An obvious area of potential cooperation relates to China's efforts to
develop clean coal technology.In discussions with President Zhu Deren of the
Central Coal Mining Research Institute and Dr. Cheng Yuqi of the Chinese Coal
Energy Research Corporation, it was clear that American technology could be
used to help China deal with its energy problems in an environmentally
responsible manner. The cooperation between our two countries in this area is
nascent, and worthy of continued development.

I recently had the pleasure of working with a number of your government's top
environmental policymakers on another issue of importance to me --protecting
our world's maritime environment. I currently serve as the U.S. Vice President
for the Advisory Committee on the Protection of the Seas (ACOPS). ACOPS is
an international, non-political organization consisting of a variety of foundations,
governmental and non-governmental institutions, companies, and private
individuals aimed at promoting strategies for global sustainable development of
marine and coastal environments.

In December, I represented the United States at an ACOPS conference in Manila
to implement a program of action to protect the East Asian Seas region. What
we learned from the Chinese delegation is that the key issue facing China
as we move toward the 21st century is how to protect the marine
environment while maintaining sustainable use of marine resources.While
the water quality of most of the sea areas of China is sound, the offshore water in
some bay areas close to cities has been seriously polluted and degraded. I was
impressed to learn that the Chinese government has adopted several measures
aimed at restoring these degraded areas. In addition, the National
Environmental Protection Agency of China (NEPA) has formed a marine
environment protection network ranging from central, provincial, down to local
levels.

During my visit, I met with your Administrator of NEPA, Mr. Xie Zhen-Hua, to
further discuss ways in which the United States can help with these efforts. I will
tell you that I -- along with all of my ACOPS colleagues -- was very impressed
with the interest and commitment of your environmental representatives to lead
efforts to advance a plan for protecting the East Asian Seas. In fact, I will host a
major oceans conference in the United States in May to follow up on many of the