U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, John Kerry (L), and Chinese Premier Li Qiang (R) warmly shake hands before a significant meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on Tuesday. The photo was captured by Florence Lo/EPA-EFE.
July 18 (UPI) — Against the backdrop of record-breaking temperatures in China, John Kerry, the special presidential envoy on climate for the United States, held a crucial discussion with Chinese Premier Li Qiang to strengthen their collaboration on combating climate change.
Beijing recently experienced its 27th consecutive day with temperatures exceeding 95 degrees, indicating the severity of the current heatwave in China. This marks the second consecutive year of intense heatwaves in the country, with 2022 witnessing the highest number of “extreme high-temperature events” since 1961.
During the meeting, Kerry emphasized that the escalating temperatures serve as a clear indication that “things are changing.”
“Scientists have expressed greater concern than ever about the environmental shifts occurring on our planet in recent weeks,” observed Kerry.
Kerry commenced the discussion with Li by highlighting the significance of establishing a stable relationship between the world’s two largest economies to effectively address global climate change.
“Thanks to the efforts of President Biden and President Xi to stabilize the relationship, we now have the opportunity to make progress leading up to COP 28 in the United Arab Emirates this December,” explained Kerry, as reported by CNBC.
In addition to Li, Kerry also met with Chinese diplomat Wang Yi, who emphasized that climate change is just one aspect of the broader China-U.S. relationship.
“Promoting cooperation on climate change is an integral part of China-U.S. relations,” mentioned Wang in a translated statement.
Li underscored the importance of knowledge-sharing and technological advancements between the United States and China, with a specific focus on global green initiatives and low-carbon transformation. He further emphasized that developed countries should provide greater technological support to developing nations.
Expressing his hope for a strengthened relationship between the two countries, Kerry stated his desire for joint efforts in tackling climate change, as reported by Xinhua News Agency.
