U.S. and Chinese environmental regulators on Tuesday said they have signed a new pact governing how the two countries collaborate on pollution issues.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and China's Ministry of Environmental Protection signed a memorandum of understanding during EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson's first official visit to China.

China's Environmental Protection Minister Zhou Shengxian also signed the agreement, which formalizes how the two countries intend to collaborate on "the prevention and management of air pollution, water pollution, pollution from persistent organic pollutants and other toxic substances, hazardous and solid waste, and the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental law."

Jackson embarked on her first official visit to China on Saturday, and is slated to return Thursday. The memorandum of understanding is a renewal of an agreement that expired in 2008.

The latest pact, however, establishes room for the two entities to develop agreements on science and technology cooperation. It also establishes a joint committee to be co-chaired by the two environmental protection officials. The committee is expected to meet every two years, with Jackson hosting the next meeting in Washington Nov. 16-17.

At that meeting, the environmental entities plan to discuss progress made over the previous two years and approve work plans for the next two years.

"As we celebrate our shared successes, this is a good time for us to also evaluate our collaboration, identify emerging priorities, and sharpen our focus on building a prosperous and healthy future," Jackson said in a prepared statement.