Sharing Best Practices

	The first EcoPartnership signing ceremony was held on December 3rd, 2008 in Beijing, at the fifth meeting of the U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED V).

Fostering Innovation
Recognizing that in both countries, local entities have often been a laboratory for new and innovative policy initiatives, EcoPartnerships are also intended to facilitate opportunities to test and demonstrate the policies, technologies, and new approaches at sub-national levels. EcoPartnerships are also to facilitate innovations that may include development, commercialization and deployment of energy and environmental technologies.

Encouraging Sustainable Economic Development
EcoPartnerships are also intended to encourage governments at various levels to assess and create favorable policy environments, which provide incentives for industry and individuals to engage in energy efficient behavior, develop new and renewable energy sources, develop clean transportation systems, protect forests and wetlands so that their functional and service value can be realized, and also to build capacity for the promotion of sustainable development.