Energy Min.: Intl. energy cooperation should be on agenda

Beijing, Nov 26, IRNA – Minister of Energy Hamid Chitchian said on Saturday that international cooperation in energy on national, regional and global levels should be on a consensus basis and based on a common agenda. Chitchian made the remark in an address to the 27th Meeting of the Energy Charter Conference in Tokyo, Japan, on Saturday. He said more energy access, diversity of energy resources, energy security, energy productivity and growing use of renewable energies are among strategic plans of governments, attending the conference. Nowadays, the connection between energy, food and water security is an inalienable issue, so heavy responsibility is on countries' shoulders, said Chitchian, adding that human activities are accountable mainly for global warming, climate change and natural disasters. 'Now all these are basic threats to human health and environment.' Regarding the location of Energy Charter Conference, Chitchian said the charter persuades cooperation among governments and other related beneficiaries, so it could be a base for cooperation between participants in the meeting to prepare different energy resources. Chitchian, who is in Tokyo to attend the meeting signed the document related to Iran's observer status in the ECC on Friday. He met with Japan Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, deputy minister of economy, Trade and Industry and President of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Shinichi Kitaoka and a number of senior directors of Japan big companies on Friday. Iran Energy Minister Chitchian also met with Secretary General of Energy Charter Conference Erban Rusnak in Tokyo on Saturday noon and discussed ways Iran can play more active role in implementation of the charter goals. The 27th Meeting of Energy Charter Conference kicked off in Tokyo on Saturday morning. 1378/IRNA