In September, 2006, the U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED) was established by Presidents Bush and Hu.  By prioritizing issues of mutual US-China concern in the broader context of our bilateral economic relationship, the SED gives direction and creates momentum for the many existing bilateral mechanisms we use to foster cooperation and resolve concerns across the spectrum of economic issues.  SED conferences have historically been held bi-annually, with locations alternating between the US and China.

In June, 2008, at the fourth meeting of the SED in Annapolis, Maryland, the US and China signed a Ten Year Energy and Environment Cooperation Framework (TYF) that sets goals and establishes concrete next steps.  The Cooperation Framework is structured to foster extensive collaboration over a ten year period to address the interlinked global challenges of environmental sustainability, climate change, and energy security. 

The two countries announced the following four steps in this cooperation:

1. Signing of the Ten Year Energy and Environment Cooperation Framework.
2. Announced five initial goals to be addressed under the Framework.
3. Announced the establishment of five task forces to develop action plans focused on concrete cooperation for each goal, with the aim of completing all of these action plans by the next SED meeting.
4. Initiated discussions on exploring the concept of EcoPartnerships as vehicles for implementing and demonstrating cooperative initiatives of the US-China Ten Year Energy and Environment Cooperation Framework.

The first EcoPartnerships began in December, 2008.