China, US agree on need for stronger climate commitments

KOMPAS.com - The world's two biggest carbon polluters, the United States and China, have agreed to cooperate with other countries to curb climate change, just days before US President Joe Biden hosts a virtual summit of world leaders to discuss the issue.

The agreement was reached by US special envoy for climate John Kerry and his Chinese counterpart Xie Zhenhua during two days of talks in Shanghai last week, the US State Department said in a statement.

“The United States and China are committed to cooperating with each other and with other countries to tackle the climate crisis, which must be addressed with the seriousness and urgency that it demands,” the joint statement said.

China and the United States pump out nearly half of the fossil fuel fumes that are warming the planet's atmosphere.

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Their cooperation is key to the success of global efforts to curb climate change, but frayed ties over human rights, trade, and China's territorial claims to Taiwan and the South China Sea have been threatening to undermine the work.

Kerry's Shanghai trip marked the highest-level travel to China by a US official since Biden took office in January. From Shanghai, the former secretary of state flew to South Korea for talks.

Biden has invited 40 world leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, to the April 22-23 summit.

Indonesia’s President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo was also invited to participate in the event. Two other ASEAN leaders who were also invited to the meeting included Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Vietnam’s President Nguyen Phu Trong.

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