US climate envoy John Kerry said it was "imperative that China and the United States make real progress" in the four months before the Cop28 global climate talks in Dubai, as he met his counterpart Xie Zhenhua in Beijing on Monday.

He also urged the nation to partner with the United States to cut methane emissions and reduce the climate impact of coal-fired power, with the two sides aiming to rebuild trust following a suspension in talks last year.

As delegates representing the world's top two greenhouse gas emitters gathered in a conference room overlooking Beijing's Forbidden City on Monday morning, Xie said the two climate envoys could play a role in improving China-US relations.

Xie and Kerry held four hours of talks on Monday.

"Xie Zhenhua, China's special envoy for climate change affairs, concluded his talks with John Kerry, the special envoy of the US president for climate issues, which lasted for around four hours," CCTV said. It did not give any further details.

Beijing said after the talks "climate change is a common challenge faced by all mankind".

China would "exchange views with the United States on issues related to climate change, and work together to meet challenges and improve the wellbeing of current and future generations", Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said.

Both countries "must take urgent action on a number of fronts, especially the challenges of coal and methane pollution," Kerry wrote in a tweet after the talks.

"The climate crisis demands that the world's two largest economies work together to limit the Earth's warming," he tweeted.

Kerry's third visit to China as US climate envoy marks the formal resumption in top-level climate diplomacy between the two countries. The former Secretary of State is the third US official to visit Beijing in recent weeks as China and the US aim to stabilise their broader bilateral relationship.

This week's meetings, which will continue until Wednesday, will have no formal schedule but are expected to focus on the abatement of methane and other non-CO2 emissions, as well as the run-up to Cop28.

"In the next three days we hope we can begin taking some big steps that will send a signal to the world about the serious purpose of China and the United States to address a common risk, threat, challenge to all of humanity created by humans themselves,” Kerry said.

China's reliance on coal is also likely to be on the agenda. Mainland officials have pledged to start reducing coal consumption.

Kerry praised the "incredible job" China has been doing in building up renewable energy capacity but said it had been undercut by the construction of new coal power plants.

Kerry and Xie had met on Sunday night for a one-on-one dinner. Both referred to each other as friends.

"Yesterday after we met each other, I did a little calculation," Xie said on Monday.

"I counted that since the two of us have been appointed special envoys, we have met 53 times." (Reuters/AFP)
_____________________________
Last updated: 2023-07-17 HKT 22:07