US-China climate talks yield ‘positive results’ ahead of COP28 and possible Xi-Biden meeting

Kerry shared positive sentiments on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, along with photos taken with Xie at the Sunnylands estate in Rancho Mirage, where Xi and then US President Barack Obama held their first summit in 2013.

“We had comprehensive and constructive discussions with the [People’s Republic of China] over five days, and we reached common ground on a number of issues that we expect will prove productive in these critical weeks ahead of COP28,” Kerry wrote.

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US climate envoy John Kerry meets China’s top diplomat Wang Yi in latest bid to repair frayed ties

US climate envoy John Kerry meets China’s top diplomat Wang Yi in latest bid to repair frayed ties

At the time, Kerry described the July talks as “extremely warm and productive” and went on to meet China’s top diplomat Wang Yi, Premier Li Qiang and Vice-President Han Zheng. Kerry and Xie spoke again via video link a week later.

The COP28 summit, aimed at building consensus on limiting global warming, will be held in the United Arab Emirates from November 30 to December 12.

COP28 president Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber, who heads the UAE’s state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, praised China’s methane plan as a “critical step for global climate action”, saying he was “delighted” to see China taking part in global efforts.

China emits 7.44 tonnes (8.2 tons) of carbon dioxide per person annually while the US emits 15.32 tonnes, according to Worldometer. China has pledged to reach peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and become carbon neutral by 2060.

The climate summit in Dubai is expected to follow a much-anticipated meeting between Biden and Xi on the sidelines of next week’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco.

While neither side has confirmed the meeting, top officials from both countries have consistently visited each other in what has been seen as a bid to patch relations and reestablish high-level dialogue.