Pelosi, Bipartisan Congressional Delegation in China This Week to Discuss Clean Energy, Climate Change
Pelosi, Bipartisan Congressional Delegation in China This Week to Discuss Clean Energy, Climate Change
Monday, May 25, 2009
Contact: Brendan Daly/Nadeam Elshami, 202-226-7616
Shanghai, China - Speaker Nancy Pelosi and a bipartisan congressional delegation are in China this week, focusing on opportunities that will help create clean, sustainable energy policies.
"We have come to China at the invitation of the Chinese government because we believe China and the United States must confront the urgent challenge of climate change together," Pelosi said this morning during a speech to the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai.
"Protecting human rights has been a top priority for me throughout my career in Congress. I will continue to speak out for human rights in China and around the world. Indeed, protecting the environment is a human rights issue. We hope to send a clear message that transparency, accountability, enforcement, and respect for the rule of law are essential if we are to protect our planet."
The congressional delegation, which arrived in Shanghai on Sunday afternoon, visited with Catholic Bishop Jin Luxian to discuss issues related to religous freedom in China. Bishop Jin, 93, was imprisoned by the Chinese government for 27 years because of his activities related to his faith.
"We were honored to meet with Bishop Jin and listen to his wise words about religious freedom in China, his relationship with Catholic leaders around the world, and the challenges of misunderstanding and prejudice in the world today," Pelosi said.
On Sunday evening, the delegation met with Liu Yungeng, Chairman of the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress.
On Monday morning, Speaker Pelosi and the top leaders of the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, Edward Markey (D-MA) and James Sensenbrenner (R-WI), spoke at a breakfast meeting sponsored by the American Chamber of Commerce.
Later on Monday, the delegation met with Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng to discuss actions taken by the municipal government to address the environmental challenges of the city.
The delegation also participated in roundtable discussion with Chinese business leaders, who discussed their efforts to develop clean energy technology, reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the most energy intensive industries, protect intellectual property rights, develop energy efficient buildings, reduce water pollution, produce electric vehicles, promote wind development, and expand public transportation.
In addition to Pelosi, Markey and Sensenbrenner, the members of the congressional delegation are Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Congressman Jay Inslee (D-WA) and Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-CA).
The delegation has been invited to engage in China with national and local government officials, business leaders, students, and environmentalists on many aspects of the U.S.-China relationship, including climate change, clean energy, the global financial crisis, human rights, and international trade.