U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke last week visited the Cummins Emission Solutions plant in Beijing as part of his four-day visit to China to continue the dialog on economic, energy and environmental issues between the countries.

Locke toured the plant with John Watkins, a Cummins vice president and president of Cummins East Asia, CES Beijing general manager Wang Bin and plant manager Michael Pritchard to get a first-hand look at technology critical to Cummins’ efforts to meet tougher new emissions requirements in China.

CES develops and supplies catalytic exhaust systems and related products to the commercial engine markets. Cummins established the CES plant in Beijing, its first in China, in 2008, to locally produce after-treatment systems to support the implementation of the National Stage 4 emission regulations in China, scheduled to be implemented in 2011.

Locke praised Cummins for its work to create jobs in both China and the U.S. as well as for its efforts to curb pollution in China through clean diesel technology.

“This is a good model of win-win cooperation between China and the United States, using American technology and know-how and employing Chinese workers to develop the great products that do good for the environment,” Locke said while touring the CES plant.

Cummins operates 26 facilities in China, including 15 manufacturing sites.