Environment

China warns US improved ties needed for climate cooperation

Beijing, Sep 2 (EFE).- China’s foreign affairs minister has warned the United States’ special presidential envoy for climate in a virtual meeting that improved bilateral ties are needed to cooperate on climate change.

US envoy John Kerry is in the Chinese city of Tianjin after meeting with Japanese officials in Tokyo on Tuesday to coordinate positions for the COP26 summit to be held in Glasgow, Scotland, from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2.

“China-US cooperation on climate change serves interests of both sides and the world, and enjoys broad development prospect, but such cooperation cannot sustain without an improved bilateral relationship,” Wang Yi said, according to a statement by the Chinese foreign ministry Thursday.

According to Wang, the two countries have engaged in “fruitful dialogue” on climate change, but must continue to work to seek “common ground while shelving differences.”

“Major strategic miscalculation by the US has resulted in the sudden deterioration of bilateral relations in recent years,” Wang said, according to the ministry, adding the ball is now in the US’ court.

The US embassy in China said in a separate statement that Kerry urged Wang to increase measures to reduce emissions.

“The United States remains committed to cooperating with the world to tackle the climate crisis, which must be addressed with the seriousness and urgency that it demands,” it added.

Last April, Kerry and his Chinese counterpart, Xie Zhenhua, pledged to strengthen the implementation of the Paris Agreement, which seeks to limit global temperature rises. EFE

jco/tw

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