- The Kerry-Zhenhua talks in Beijing lasted for four hours.
- Talks stalled after Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan.
- Despite the US-China rift, Kerry has maintained a steady relationship.
In an effort to revive climate talks stalled for years after a US official visited Taiwan, the Biden administration’s climate envoy John Kerry met with his Chinese counterpart on Monday and discussed carbon emissions for four hours as the world reached a record high. Temperature and heatwave are watching. ,
Climate diplomacy kicked off after then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan – which China considers its territory – which angered Beijing.
A former secretary of state under former US President Obama had close and sustained ties with China despite differences between the two countries on a number of issues.
According to Chinese media, Kerry held four-hour talks with his Chinese counterpart Xie Zhenhua in Beijing on Monday.
“China’s Special Envoy for Climate Change Affairs Xie Zhenhua concluded his talks with John Kerry, the US President’s Special Envoy for Climate Issues, which lasted nearly four hours,” the broadcaster said. cctv Said.
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said CNN On Sunday, Kerry will press Beijing to “not hide behind any claim that they are a developing country” to slow down efforts to cut emissions.
“Every country has a responsibility to reduce emissions, including China,” Sullivan said.
“And I believe the world should step up and encourage – in fact, pressure – China to take 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 “they have more work to do on that front”.
He said, “When Secretary Kerry is in Beijing, he will explain this.”
determination
Kerry’s visit follows two other high-profile visits by US officials – Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen – aimed at normalizing relations between the US and China.
His visit to China comes as the Northern Hemisphere is experiencing a record-setting heat wave, which scientists say is being exacerbated by climate change.
“Kerry’s visit and the resumption of the climate dialogue underline the critical importance of coordinated efforts to address the climate crisis,” said Chunping Xie, Grantham Research Institute’s Senior Policy Fellow on Climate Change and the Environment. AFP in written comments.
“It also reflects their shared determination to advance the complex geopolitical relationship to promote the common good,” Xi said.
As the leading emitter of greenhouse gases responsible for climate change, China has pledged to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve full carbon neutrality by 2060.
President Xi Jinping has also said that the country will reduce the use of coal from 2026.
