An energy-saving building was completed in Beijing Monday morning, showing the latest partnership between China and the United States in science and technology.  

Chinese Minister of Science and Technology Xu Guanhua and visiting U.S. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham attended the project completion ceremony.

According to an agreement reached by the two governments in July 1998, the two sides cooperated with each other in building the energy efficiency demonstration project.

The building, with a floor space of 13,000 square meters, consumes only 40 percent of the daily energy used by most commercial buildings.

After the ceremony, Xu and Abraham held talks on closer partnership between the two countries on developing energy-saving technologies.

The two senior officials said that both China and the United States are challenged with problems on energy consumption and environmental protection.

They agreed that more bilateral cooperation and consultation on those issues would meet interests of both sides.

(Xinhua News Agency January 12, 2004)