US-China Energy and Trade Forum

A large group of Freeman School graduate students attended the US-China Energy and Trade Forum at school on Thursday, October 17, 2013.  After brief remarks by the Chinese delegation, the forum was open to a Q & A session.  Since the U. S. is an important trading partner, the delegation is interested to promote energy and trade between the two countries.  There are obstacles but the two sides must find ways to overcome them.  There are also areas of cooperation and the LNG technology was mentioned as one of those areas.

One student asked about career opportunity in China and the response was it will continue to improve.  China is taking big steps in energy conservation but consumption will continue to rise due to economic development.

Louisiana is a major port of US energy trades, and almost all the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) export facilities currently approved or being processed by the US Dept. of Energy are located at the Gulf Coast. The Henry Hub near New Orleans will serve as the world LNG bench mark price point. Energy supply is essential for continued economic development of the USA and China, but reducing the environmental impacts of energy use are critical to global sustainability.

The forum featured among others:

• H. E. Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong, Secretary General, Boao Forum for Asia

• Mr. Jin Liqun, Chairman, China International Capital Corporation Limited

• Mr. Zhou Dadi, Vice Chairman, State Energy Expert Committee

• Mr. Xu Erwen, Consul General, Chinese Consulate General, Houston

• Mr. Zhang Ping, Vice President, Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs (CPIFA)