Chinese and US scientists will be collaborating on research into clean energy with millions of dollars in backing by the two nations, a US national laboratory announced on Wednesday.

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California said it was part of a US team that will receive 25 million dollars during the next five years from a joint US-China Clean Energy Research Center.

The team, led by West Virginia University, will develop and test new technology for capturing and storing carbon gas considered a main culprit in climate change.

"We believe strongly that cooperation between the United States and China on clean coal and carbon capture and sequestration is critical to national security and global energy and environmental interests," said Julio Friedmann, director of the carbon management program at the lab.

"We look forward to working closely with our Chinese counterparts to find opportunities to collaborate that serve the needs of both nations."

A second US team, headed by the University of Michigan, will get 25 million dollars in funding to improve technology for clean vehicles, according to the lab. Chinese research partners were to be announced in coming months.

The US and China launched the clean energy center in November.

The partnership will create opportunities for businesses while helping "reduce global carbon pollution," according to US Energy Secretary Steven Chu.