Opening Statement of Carolyn Bartholomew, Chairman
June 14, 2007
Washington, DC
Good morning and welcome to the fourth hearing of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission’s 2007 reporting cycle. We are pleased that you could join us today.
At today’s hearing, we are continuing the Commission’s assessment of U.S.-China relations by exploring a topic that has been at the forefront of recent bilateral dialogues—energy, one of the areas Congress mandated the Commission to explore. Today’s hearing will assess the impact of China’s rising energy consumption on U.S. security and access to energy supplies. The Commission will examine this issue of energy security from strategic and environmental perspectives that we hope will allow the Commission to gain a broader understanding of the implications of China’s growing energy consumption. The deteriorating state of China’s environment has consequences for people around the world. During this hearing, we hope to hear suggestions of strategies for mitigating any negative effects of China’s energy use on U.S. energy security and the environment, and for exploring new opportunities for U.S.-China cooperation on energy.
Later today and tomorrow, key officials from Executive Branch agencies, a representative of a Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and expert witnesses from the private sector and academia will offer their views and advice on energy and environment issues. I am looking forward to the testimony of our witnesses and to the insight they will provide.
Commission Vice Chairman Daniel Blumenthal is serving as one of the co-chairs for today’s hearing. I’ll now turn the proceedings over to him for his opening remarks. First I want to express appreciation to him and the other three hearing co-chairs, Commissioners Richard D’Amato, Dennis Shea, and Peter Videnieks, for their work in assembling this important hearing
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Welcome again to all of you and thank you for your interest in the Commission’s work.