UL Joins U.S. Presidential Trade Mission to the People's Republic of China

Company Brings Safety Science Perspective and Expertise to 'Smart Cities – Smart Growth' Initiative

NORTHBROOK, Ill., April 13, 2015 /CNW/ -- UL, a global safety science leader, will join the U.S. Presidential Trade Mission to the People's Republic of China this week to explore ways for the U.S. and China to advance development of affordable clean energy technologies and build environmentally conscious "smart cities."

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and Department of Energy Deputy Secretary Dr. Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall is leading a delegation of 25 American companies, including UL, to Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou from April 12-17.

Smart cities are the future of China as the nation continues to shift from a primarily rural nation to an urban one with unprecedented speed and scale. Government and private sectors are working together to modernize cities with safety as a priority.

"A smart city is an important endeavor, but it also has to be a safe city," said Weifang Zhou, president of UL Ventures. "UL seeks to advance safety in tandem with innovation in areas critical to the life of a modern city -- energy, buildings, transportation, healthcare and public facilities. For example, energy in a smart city should be produced responsibly, deployed safely and utilized sensibly."

During the week, U.S. and Chinese government and private sector leaders will explore clean technology products and services in the areas of green building and construction, energy efficiency, carbon capture, utilization and storage, and environmental technologies.

"We're pleased China is embracing the idea of 'smart cities'," said Zhou. "It's an opportunity for the nation to develop new approaches that can boost China's economy and serve as an example to the world. We are eager to share our 120 years of safety experience in  the dialogues this week and work together to propel the development of safe, smart cities."

Last November, President Obama and President Xi jointly announced that the U.S. and China would work together to meet both countries' climate change reduction targets. This mission is one of several efforts underway that aims to expand U.S.-China clean energy cooperation.

UL supports rapid evolution of the global energy markets across multiple renewable energy segments, including solar, wind, smart grids and next-generation batteries.  Its safety science and testing expertise covers fundamental aspects of a safe "smart city" – energy efficiency and infrastructure, renewable energy, smart grid technologies, and green building technologies.

About UL
UL is a premier global independent safety science company that has championed progress for 120 years. Its more than 10,000 professionals are guided by the UL mission to promote safe working and living environments for all people. UL uses research and standards to continually advance and meet ever-evolving safety needs. We partner with businesses, manufacturers, trade associations and international regulatory authorities to bring solutions to a more complex global supply chain. For more information about our certification, testing, inspection, advisory and education services, visit http://www.UL.com.

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