The University of Denver is establishing the Institute for Sino-American International Dialogue to address energy, water and environmental issues in China and the United States.

The institute will be housed in DU’s Graduate School of International Studies (GSIS).

The funding is $3.3 million, about $2.4 million of which is from the Anna and John J. Sie Foundation and the remainder of which is from the university and other sources.

The Anna and John J. Sie Foundation supports the sharing of knowledge amongst peoples and cultures throughout the global community, with an emphasis on media, business, technology and education.

Banning Garrett, director of Asia programs at the Atlantic Council of the United States in Washington, D.C., will become the executive director of the institute.

Garrett said at a press conference yesterday that he hopes to “reach a common understanding” of what the energy challenges are. Gov. Bill Owens and Chancellor Robert Coombe also spoke at the conference.

Garrett said he’s asking himself, “Are we having impact? I don’t want to just push paper around.”

Garrett will arrive at DU on Jan. 1. He aims to build links to other organizations and institutions in the United States and China that share some of the institute’s initiatives namely commissioning and directing policy-oriented research, securing key decision makers to permanent forums and directing the ongoing forums, conferences and symposia.

GSIS Dean Tom Farer said that he hopes to create dialogue, even if those who are talking aren’t necessarily “experts.”

“It’s [important] to bring influential people from both sides of the ocean.”

“It’s absolutely critical for global sustainability,” Sie said.

Coombe said that the university’s location in the West makes it an ideal location to craft policy recommendations because of the region’s experience in dealing with water-resource management, the environmental impact of development and conservation of energy resources.