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DENVER, the United States, Oct. 13-- Denver city officials welcomed Chinese government and energy leaders with open arms Friday as the city hosted the bilateral Energy Efficiency Forum (EEF) for the first time. The city's deputy mayor Allegra Haynes told 150 forum participants they were in the right place, as Denver was dubbed the No. 1 energy efficient municipality in the United States in 2016, according to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy. "We are 'delighted' to host the event," Haynes said, noting that energy reduction policies have saved 28 million KW of electricity and 700,000 thermos of natural gas in Denver since 2017. The forum has been held in Beijing four times since its inception in 2010, and has been hosted by Washington D.C., Arlington Virginia, Berkeley California, and now Denver in the United States. The event has increased each year in size and impact, event organizers told Xinhua, and is the main platform for senior U.S. and Chinese officials to assess energy efficient action plans, discuss new policies, and examine trade and investment opportunities. Ren Shuben, director general of the Department of Resource Conservation and Environmental Protection of China's National Development and Reform Commission, headed the Chinese delegation, and delivered inspiring keynote speech about cooperation between the two countries in regards to energy conservation. "China and the U.S. can set the example for energy conservation for the whole world - we have the same goals - to develop green energy," Ren said at Friday's opening ceremony, echoing the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Acting Assistant Secretary Daniel Simmons' words in speech that the two countries have "common interest" in this field. | 
