UNITED States Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said in Shanghai yesterday that he expected more "win-win situations" in Sino-American bilateral investment involving green technology.

"We should work together," Locke said in a short speech delivered during a visit to the Shanghai Chengtou Corp.

"With energy consumption expected to double by 2050 and more pressure from climate change, it is more urgent than ever for us to cooperate in environment-friendly and energy-efficient technology."

Locke arrived in the city yesterday morning with representatives from 24 US companies on a clean-energy trade mission.

The delegation aims to advance exports of US technology related to clean energy in the areas of efficiency, storage, transmission and distribution.

Right after landing following a flight from Hong Kong, Locke presented a US Commerce Department award to Shanghai Tower Construction and Development, a subsidiary under Shanghai Chengtou.

This group hired American company Gensler to provide a green design for the Shanghai Tower - a 632-meter-high skyscraper that will become the city's tallest building upon its completion.

High honor

In the afternoon, Locke visited the Shanghai Engine Center built by the Shanghai Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Engine Maintenance Co Ltd, a joint-venture operation between China Eastern Airlines and Pratt & Whitney.

The center has been granted a leadership in energy and environmental design platinum certificate, honoring its work in the field.

It is the first business in China to receive this award.

"We want to see more such win-win situations," Locke said. "Like in Shanghai Pratt & Whitney, it brings many good jobs to China but also benefits the US as well because it has to use material made by people in America."

The aircraft maintenance company charges more than US$3 million for each overhaul of a plane and more than 75 percent of the parts used during the process are sourced from the US.

Locke will give a speech today to members of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai and the US-China Business Council.

Locke's schedule also includes a visit to the USA Pavilion at the World Expo.

After Shanghai, he and the delegation will travel to Beijing for the Strategic & Economic Dialogue.

Vice Premier Wang Qishan and State Councilor Dai Bingguo will co-chair the meeting next Monday and Tuesday.

Locke, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and US Trade Representative Ron Kirk will attend the talks.

"The two sides will exchange in-depth views on a broad range of strategic and long-term issues of overall importance that concern the development of the two countries," Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said at a regular briefing yesterday.