US Climate Envoy John Kerry Emphasizes Separation of Climate Change from Diplomatic Issues during Visit to China
by [Author Name]
John Kerry, the United States’ special envoy for climate change, concluded his visit to China on the 19th (local time) by making a significant announcement. Kerry highlighted the need to address the issue of climate change separately from diplomatic concerns.
During his visit, Kerry, accompanied by US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns, engaged in a series of high-level meetings with Chinese counterparts. These discussions included Vice President Han Han, whom Kerry met on the last day of his trip. Recognizing the complexities faced by the US-China relationship in recent years, Kerry emphasized that various external factors have hindered climate change cooperation between the two countries.
“Climate change poses a formidable threat that must be tackled independently from broader diplomatic issues,” stated Kerry during his meeting with Vice President Han Han at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, according to reputable foreign media outlets such as Reuters and CNBC.
In his comprehensive discussions with China’s special representative for climate change, Xie Zhenhua, as well as Senior Chinese Communist Party member Wang Yi and State Councilor Premier Li Chang, Kerry primarily focused on deforestation control and reducing methane gas emissions. While no definite plans for greenhouse gas emission reductions were proposed, these engagements were seen as a resumption of climate cooperation and continued high-level communication between the United States and China.
Kerry expressed optimism about the upcoming 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) in Dubai, UAE, scheduled for November. He views this conference as the most significant gathering since the Paris Conference, stating that early discussions leading up to COP28 present an opportunity for meaningful change.
Vice President Han Han emphasized that the joint statement issued by the two countries, expressing cooperation in response to the climate crisis, sends a positive signal to the global community. However, in subsequent remarks, Han Han shifted focus towards diplomatic matters.
Responding to this shift, Han Han highlighted the importance of climate change in China-US cooperation, as stated by China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency. Han Han also referred to the “Bali consensus,” which outlines key principles such as avoiding a new cold war, respecting China’s system, refraining from anti-China alliances, supporting Taiwan’s independence, and aiming to prevent conflicts with China.
The contrasting emphasis placed on cooperation and diplomatic problem-solving in addressing the climate change issue by US special envoy Kerry and Vice President Han Han suggests underlying differences between the United States and China.
Both countries aim to navigate these differing perspectives, highlighting the urgency and global significance of climate change while effectively managing diplomatic complexities.
On the 19th (local time), on the last day of his visit to China, John Kerry, the US special envoy for climate change, announced that “the issue of climate change must be dealt with separately from diplomatic issues.”
US special envoy for climate change John Kerry (centre), who is visiting China, joins US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns (left) to attend a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on the 18th./Yonhap News
According to foreign media outlets such as Reuters and CNBC, Kerry met with Vice President Han Han at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on the same day and said, “The relationship between the United States and China has faced a complicated situation in recent years, and many external factors have complicated cooperation on climate change between the two countries.”
“Climate change is an overarching threat that must be dealt with separately from the wider diplomatic issues,” Kerry said.
Kerry, who arrived in China on the 16th, held a series of high-level meetings with China’s special representative for climate change Xie Zhenhua, member of the Central Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party Wang Yi, and State Councilor Premier Li Chang before the meeting with Vice President Han Jeong, and discussed the control of deforestation and the reduction of methane gases. Although the United States and China did not propose specific plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the two countries were evaluated to have resumed climate cooperation and continued high-level communication.
Kerry predicted that the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) to be held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) in November will be the most important meeting after the Paris Conference.
“If we discuss it in the months before the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC, we will have the opportunity to ensure change,” he said.
Vice President Han emphasized that “the joint statement adopted by the two countries has sent a positive signal to the world.” Earlier, in April 2021, the two countries issued a joint statement stating that they would cooperate to respond to the climate crisis.
However, Vice President Han was lucky with ‘cooperation in responding to climate change’, but in the comments that followed, he showed a focus on ‘diplomatic issues’.
According to China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency, Vice President Han said, “Responding to climate change is an important aspect of China-US cooperation.”
The “Bali consensus” mentioned by China includes the so-called “Five Nights”: ▲ not to pursue a new cold war ▲ not to seek change in the Chinese system ▲ not to seek anti-China by strengthening alliances ▲ not to support Taiwan’s independence ▲ not wanting to cause conflict with China.
It seems that the United States and China have revealed their differences by introducing ‘cooperation’ and ‘diplomatic problem solving’ alongside special envoy Kerry, who wants to avoid diplomatic difficulties and join first, even on the climate change issue.
#special #envoy #Kerry #Cooperation #climate #change #separated #diplomacy
