WASHINGTON, July 28 (Xinhua) -- China and the United States enjoyed a broad prospect of energy cooperation and have agreed to further expand the depth and width of cooperation, a Chinese official said here Tuesday.

    Gu Jun, an official at the National Energy Administration (NEA),told a press conference at the China-U.S. strategic and economic dialogue that the two sides have held in-depth discussion on the clean energy cooperation and energy security.

    "Both sides are of the opinion that, as major energy producers and consumers, China and the United States need to ensure the stable and reliable supply of energy, avoid drastic fluctuation of the oil price and oil price hikes," she told the reporters.

    The two countries have the common need to safeguard the world energy security and have lots of complementarities in energy cooperation, Gu said.

    "There is bright future for cooperation in the areas of new and renewable energy, smart grid, shale gas, coal bed methane, clean use of coal and advanced nuclear energy. "

    She said both China and the United States have made full use of the existing energy cooperative mechanisms and held eight sessions of the China-U.S. Oil and Gas Forum and three rounds of China-U.S. Energy Policy Dialogue.

    "Both sides agree to co-sponsor a new round of oil and gas forum and energy policy dialogue this year," Gu said.

    On the nuclear energy cooperation, Gu said China is the first to introduce the AP 1000 nuclear technology of the U.S. Westinghouse Electric Company and built the first AP 1000 nuclear power plant in the world.

    Besides, China has fully supported the global nuclear cooperation plan put forward by the United States, and will hold the first global ministerial meeting on nuclear energy cooperation, she said.

    Some U.S. companies have acquired the gas and oil exploitation fields in China, some of which yield fruitful results, said Gu, adding that China also welcomes U.S. companies to participate in the exploration and development of the shale gas.

    During the dialogue, the Chinese side also made its points on the Chinese companies' participation in the overseas oil and natural gas development, the speculative factors leading to the oil price fluctuation and the export of the energy and environment technology and equipment. 

Special Report: First Round Sino-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue