NUSA DUA, Indonesia (AP) 鈥 Chinese President Xi Jinping has agreed to resume climate change talks with the United States, President Joe Biden said Monday, three months after Xi suspended those contacts in anger over House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's trip to Taiwan.
China and the U.S. are the world鈥檚 No. 1 and 2 climate polluters. Resumption of what鈥檚 been the two countries鈥 give-some-and-get-some negotiations on climate efforts is seen as crucial to achieving the massive cuts in use of coal and other fossil fuels needed to slow global warming.
Biden and Jinping in Bali, Indonesia. Both committed Monday to directing their governments' senior officials to 鈥渕aintain communication and deepen constructive efforts" on matters including climate change and security of the world food supply, the White House said.
John Kerry鈥檚 one-on-one relationship with his Chinese government counterpart, Xie Zhenhua, proved pivotal to striking the landmark Kerry was then secretary of state and is now Biden鈥檚 climate envoy. Persuading China to move much faster to cut its reliance on dirty-burning coal has been a main 鈥 and so far unrealized 鈥 effort of Kerry's climate diplomacy under Biden.
Ani Dasgupta, head of the World Resources Institute, said in a statement Monday that the global community 鈥渨as breathing a sigh of relief鈥 at news the two nations were resuming joint climate efforts.
Xi in August mustered a range of military and diplomatic measures, including and severing of contacts on a range of trade and other matters, to demonstrate China鈥檚 displeasure at Pelosi鈥檚 trip to self-ruled Taiwan. China claims Taiwan as part of its territory.
Appearing before cameras ahead of their meeting Monday, Biden told Xi the world expects the U.S. and China 鈥渢o be able to work together鈥 on key issues, including climate change and global food shortages.
鈥淭he United States stands ready to do just that 鈥 work with you 鈥 if that鈥檚 what you desire,鈥 Biden told Xi.
Xi鈥檚 and Biden鈥檚 tensions-easing meeting came as government representatives from around the world are gathered in Egypt for a aimed at getting nations to follow through on pledges to cut climate-wrecking fossil fuel emissions, and to do more still.
Kerry and Xie had informal contacts during the two nations鈥 break on climate cooperation, focused on what would help get the joint dialogue started again.
Xi and Biden also agreed to resume the same kind of top-level contacts on other matters critical to global stability, including debt relief, the White House said.
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Knickmeyer reported from Washington.
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