By Zhang Qi (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-03-01 09:10

Sweden and China are likely to sign some renewable energy projects in Wuhan when Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt visits China in April.

"We are a world leader in renewable energy and sustainable energy systems, so this is an obvious area to cooperate with China," said Ola Altera, Sweden's deputy minister for enterprise, energy and communication at a formal visit to China this week.

Altera, who traveled to Wuhan on Thursday, said Sweden and Wuhan could reach an agreement on cooperative projects including biofuel, waste water treatment and sludge, when Sweden's prime minister arrives.

The deputy minister said Swedish companies can help provide cutting-edge solutions in many fields, including construction energy, sewage treatment and renewable energy technologies.

During Altera's talks with Huang Wei, vice-minister of construction, they discussed the topic of a Sino-Swedish eco-city to be built in China, similar to the one Singapore has signed up for with Tianjin.

"Our government just set aside special funds this year to support sustainable cities, not only in Sweden, but also for other countries, so I suspect this is a growing sector for cooperation between Sweden and China," Altera said.

The two countries are cooperating on environmentally friendly projects on various levels. Last November, the Swedish government and the State Environmental Protection Administration jointly established a center for environmental technology in Beijing.

The center with a budget of $945,000, is three-fourths paid for by Sweden, with the remainder paid by China.