China to allow equal access to foreign suppliers: US official

Chinese officials have promised foreign technology suppliers equal access to the country's booming clean energy industry during a two-day meeting of the US-Chinese Joint Committee on Commerce and Trade held in Chengdu, China

After the talks, US commerce secretary John Bryson said yesterday that Chinese officials had told him that China planned an investment of $1.7 trillion over the next five years in clean energy as also in other emerging technologies, and pledging a "level playing field" for US and other foreign suppliers.

According to foreign suppliers of wind and solar gear, Beijing improperly supported their Chinese rivals, even as business groups said the Chinese government was trying to limit foreign involvement in the growing clean energy and other growth industries.

The issue has assumed importance for US and other western economies that were counting on technology exports to rev up flagging economic growth and reduce high unemployment.

China would also offer grants, tax breaks and other support ''strategic industries'' including environmental and IT, biotech and high-end manufacturing.

The US-Chinese committee plays a key role in reducing trade tensions and it has earlier been instrumental in  producing pledges by Beijing to lower barriers to imports of American beef and to fight rampant Chinese software piracy.