PAGO PAGO, March 18: The United States sees nuclear energy as a way to help meet China’s energy needs, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said on Saturday. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice discussed the issue at a meeting with her counterparts, Taro Aso of Japan and Australia’s Alexander Downer, in Sydney, Mr McCormack told reporters on the jet carrying Ms Rice to Washington.

“China has been very aggressive in buying energy around the world,” he said, while Australia just signed a huge gas deal with China.

China is making massive purchases of oil, gas and other materials to fuel its fast-growing industries.

“Promoting the use of peaceful use of nuclear energy and bio fuels could ease the burden of searching for hydrocarbons,” Mr McCormack added.

Along those lines Washington defended its recent nuclear deal with New Delhi, the spokesman said. —AFP