California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Wednesday to discuss climate change ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders’ summit in San Francisco from Nov. 11 to 17. November and the COP28 climate meeting.
After the meeting, Newsom told reporters that he had the opportunity to further discuss climate change issues with the Chinese leader, as well as the situation surrounding Israel’s war with Hamas (designated a terrorist organization by the United States) and the epidemic of fentanyl use. , which enters the United States from China.
“We will not make progress on climate change unless the United States and China work together,” Newsom said, adding that while there are “strategic red lines,” both sides are capable of finding a solution to these problems.
During the meeting, Xi Jinping told Newsom that the two countries have “tremendous potential” for cooperation on green development and combating climate change, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported.
Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden are expected to meet at the APEC summit in San Francisco, although their meeting has not yet been officially confirmed.
Newsom began his weeklong trip to China on Monday, visiting Hong Kong and Shenzhen, and met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Vice President Han Zheng in Beijing on Wednesday.
The governor of California also signed a memorandum of understanding with China’s National Development and Reform Commission on climate cooperation.
From October 26 to 28, Secretary of the State Department, Antony Blinken, will receive Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Wang Yi, in Washington.
A document released ahead of the meeting states that “the foreign policy chiefs of the United States and China will discuss a range of bilateral, regional and global issues as part of ongoing efforts to responsibly manage the US-China relationship and maintain channels.” open communication. between the countries. “The United States will continue to use diplomacy to advance American interests and values, bridge differences, and advance the resolution of shared transnational challenges.”
Climate cooperation between the two countries has faltered in recent years, as Chinese officials have insisted that climate issues cannot be addressed separately from broader diplomatic and trade disputes between the two sides.
In July, US climate envoy John Kerry visited Beijing to resume formal talks with his Chinese counterpart Xie Zhenhua after a year-long hiatus caused by the visit of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, to Taiwan.
During the three-day visit, Kerry also held talks with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Vice President Han Zheng.
