BEIJING (AP) — U.S. presidential special envoy for climate, John Kerry, will travel to Beijing next week to discuss strategies to limit global warming as the world’s two largest economies push to re-engage across multiple discuss issues after a sharp drop in contacts.
Kerry’s office said he will arrive on Sunday and depart on July 19. He will meet his counterpart Xie Zhenhua, with whom he has established a strong working relationship.
“In meetings with PRC officials, Secretary Kerry aims to engage with the PRC on how to address the climate crisis, including in relation to increasing implementation and ambition and promoting a successful COP28,” it said. Kerry’s office in a press release, referring to China’s formal title: The People’s Republic of China and the UN Climate Change Conference to be held in the United Arab Emirates in November and December.
Kerry’s visit follows a visit from Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who on Saturday appealed to China for cooperation on climate change and other global challenges and not to let disagreements over trade and other irritants derail relations.
In a meeting with her Chinese counterpart, Vice Premier He Lifeng, Yellen defended the US restrictions on technology exports that are bothering Beijing. She said the two governments should not allow such disagreements to disrupt thriving economic and financial relations.
During a visit last month, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and said they agreed to “stabilize” badly deteriorated ties between the US and China, but the top US diplomat left Beijing with his biggest question rejected: better communication between their armies. .
After meeting with Xi, Blinken said China is not ready to resume military-to-military contacts, something the US deems crucial to avoid miscalculation and conflict, particularly over Taiwan, the self-governed island democracy claimed by China as part of its territory.
The visits by US officials are part of efforts to revive relations that are at their lowest level in decades amid disputes over trade, technology and regional security.
Beijing broke off climate talks with Washington last August in retaliation for a visit to Taiwan by then House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Kerry has said China needs to ramp up its carbon reduction targets, now reaching peak production in 2030 and becoming carbon neutral by 2060. The country is currently the largest emitter of fossil fuels, thanks in part to the continued exploitation and construction of coal. fired power plants.
Xi’s government has resisted pressure to rapidly phase out coal plants, arguing that China is still a developing country and should not be held to the same climate standards as the US and other major Western economies.
