BEIJING — China and the United States pledged on June 8 to enhance energy cooperation to jointly address global challenges.

During a meeting with US Energy Secretary Rick Perry in Beijing, Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli said he hopes the two countries can strengthen cooperation in the areas of fossil fuels and renewable energy so as to jointly push forward the transition to clean energy and contribute to the sustainable development of global energy.

Perry said the United States is ready to work with China to intensify energy, science and technology cooperation to address common challenges.

Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli (R) meets with US Energy Secretary Rick Perry in Beijing, capital of China, June 8, 2017.[Photo/Xinhua]

He said the two countries have extraordinary opportunities to work on clean energy issues.

Hailing the steady development of bilateral ties, Zhang said the historic meeting between President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Donald Trump in April at Mar-a-Lago in the US state of Florida charted the course for development of bilateral relations in the new period.

Both countries need to continue to implement the consensus reached by the two leaders to further expand cooperation and benefit both peoples, Zhang said.

Perry was in China to attend the Eighth Clean Energy Ministerial and the Second Mission Innovation Ministerial held from June 6 to 8 in Beijing.