Friendly meet: Kerry (left) greeting Xie Zhenhua ahead of talks in Beijing. — Bloomberg
Beijing: US climate envoy John Kerry held four hours of talks with his Chinese counterpart in Beijing reviving stalled diplomacy on reducing planet-warming emissions.
Climate talks between the two biggest greenhouse gas emitters came to a halt last year after Nancy Pelosi, then speaker of the US House of Representatives, enraged Beijing by visiting self-ruled Taiwan, which China considers to be part of its territory.
Kerry, a former secretary of state, has enjoyed comparatively cordial and consistent relations with China despite Washington and Beijing locking horns over Taiwan and a number of other issues.
Chinese state media reported he met his Chinese counterpart Xie Zhenhua for four hours of talks in Beijing yesterday.
“Xie Zhenhua, China’s special envoy for climate change affairs, concluded his talks with John Kerry, the special envoy of the US president for climate issues, which lasted for around four hours,” broadcaster CCTV said.
It did not share further details about the meeting.
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told CNN on Sunday that Kerry would press Beijing not to “hide behind any kind of claim that they are a developing nation” in order to slow-roll efforts to cut emissions.
“Every country, including China, has a responsibility to reduce emissions,” Sullivan said. And the world, I do believe, should step up and encourage – indeed, pressure – China to take far more dramatic action to reduce emissions.”
China has long used its official status as a developing nation to justify its high emissions, with Sullivan saying “there is more work for them to do on that front”.
Kerry’s trip follows two other high-profile visits by US officials -- Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen -- that were aimed at stabilising US-China ties. — AFP
