In a joint statement released on Sunday, Washington and Beijing said the climate crisis “must be addressed with seriousness and urgency” and agreed to work together to “strengthen” the implementation of the Paris Agreement.
“The United States and China will continue to discuss, on the road to COP 26 and beyond, concrete action in the 2020s to reduce emissions aimed at keeping Paris’ temperature limit within reach,” the statement said. .
The announcement follows two days of talks between US special presidential climate envoy John Kerry and China’s special envoy for climate change Xie Zhenhua in Shanghai on Thursday and Friday.
In a statement on Sunday, the Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment said the talks between Kerry and Xie were “candid, in-depth and constructive”.
“Both sides recognize that climate change is a serious and urgent threat to the survival and development of humanity,” the ministry said, adding that China and the US “will strengthen cooperation and work with other parties to to address the climate crisis. “
The ministry also said the two countries “will further strengthen exchanges and cooperation in areas such as strengthening policies, promoting green and low-carbon transitions, and supporting the development of energy and low carbon dioxide in developing countries.”