Considering that coal is of important status in the energy supply in both China and in the United States of America, this paper points out that clean coal conversion technology shall remain a leading technology in solving both countries’ coal utilization and environment issues before 2050. It reviews the current situation and growing trend of clean coal conversion technology involving advanced coal chemical engineering, with a focus on technologies in coal gasification, coal liquefaction, coal to olefins, and coal to ethylene glycol. This study points out that priorities should be given to the development of core technologies including chemical looping gasification technologies, one-step synthesis of low-carbon olefins from the synthetic gas, and CO2 emission reduction in coal conversion system. Strategic recommendations are put forward that collaboration should be done in fundamental part such as mechanisms in coal chemistry and coal chemical engineering, development of efficient catalysts, and design of new-type reactor.