Only through cooperation and engagement can we hope to meet our pressing global environmental challenges. The U.S.-China statement comes two months after a joint statement by the United States and India that also pledged stronger cooperation to address climate change and other environmental concerns. On trade issues, today's statement notes that China's entry into the World Trade Organization could advance its clean energy and environmental protection efforts by accelerating the greater use of environmentally-sound technologies in China. The U.S.-China Forum on Environment and Development was established in 1997 to expand bilateral cooperation and dialogue on sustainable development and environmental protection. Its third session, a minister-level meeting, was held in Honolulu in January 2000.
Plans are underway for a fourth session in China.