Climate co-op at risk over political tension

Senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi has warned the United States that political tension between Beijing and Washington could undermine efforts by the world's top two sources of greenhouse gas to co-operate in the fight against climate change.

The United States, which has resumed its role in global climate diplomacy after a four-year hiatus under President Donald Trump, has long hoped to keep climate issues separate from its disputes with China on issues such as trade, human rights and the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic.

China's State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi told US climate envoy John Kerry that the United States saw the two sides' joint efforts against global warming as an "oasis", the foreign ministry said in a statement.

"But surrounding the oasis is a desert, and the oasis could be desertified very soon," he said, speaking by video link on Wednesday. "China-US climate co-operation cannot be separated from the wider environment of China-US relations.

Kerry is in the northern city of Tianjin for face-to-face talks with Xie Zhenhua, China's special climate envoy, on the countries' joint response to the climate crisis.

In a separate video meeting with Kerry, Chinese vice premier Han Zheng urged the United States to "create a good atmosphere of co-operation", state news agency Xinhua said yesterday.