Assistant Secretary of Energy David Sandalow, speaking at the end of a trip to China, said the issue would figure prominently in discussions when US President Barack Obama visits Beijing in November.

"If we both invest in 21st century technology and encourage each other to do better, the whole world will win," Sandalow told reporters, noting that China was interested in collaborating with the US on research and development.

"I expect clean energy and climate change issues will be high on the agenda during Obama's trip," he said.

"I'm confident that when the two largest energy consumers and producers get together, it will be an important topic of discussion."

Obama's expected visit to China will come on the eve of global climate change talks in Copenhagen in December, which are aimed at crafting a successor treaty to the Kyoto Protocol, due to expire in 2012.

China and the United States are the world's largest emitters of greenhouse gases.

In a speech at United Nations headquarters in New York, Chinese President Hu Jintao pledged to reduce the carbon intensity of China's economy by a "notable margin" by 2020 from 2005 levels, but did not provide a figure.

Carbon intensity is the measure of greenhouse gas that is emitted per unit of economic activity.

Sandalow said Chinese officials would not discuss whether Hu would announce a target at the Denmark gathering.

"I asked them if they had numbers and they said they were working on them. We will see in December," said Sandalow, who attended forums on electric vehicles, the oil and gas industry, and energy policy during his visit.

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