US/China - Obama in Beijing

China and US to come to climate change agreement

Article published on the 2009-11-17 Latest update 2009-11-17 07:15 TU

US President Barack Obama shakes hands with Chinese President Hu Jintao at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, 17 November 2009
(Photo: Jim Young/Reuters)

US President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao said Tuesday that the the two countries will come to an agreement on climate change in Copenhagen next month, which seems to contradict a statement last week by Asia-Pacific world leaders which said a reaching a legally binding agreement by then is unrealistic. In his first state visit to China, Obama met with Hu, and they spoke of global warming, trade and other issues, like North Korea.

In a joint address to following their talks, Obama and Hu told journalists that they agreed to work towards a positive outcome of the Copenhagen conference.

"Our aim there is... not a partial accord or a political declaration, but rather an accord that covers all the issues in the negotiations and one that has immediate operational effect," said Obama.

Hu said the two agreed to work “on the basis of common but differentiated responsibilities… to help produce positive outcomes from the Copenhagen conference.”

This suggests that something might come of the international conference next month which aims to come up with a legally enforceable agreement on climate change to succeed the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012.

"As the two largest consumers and producers of energy, there can be no solution to this challenge without the efforts of both China and the United States,” said Obama.

The two world leaders also said they will resolve trade disputes, as each country accused the other of implementing protectionist economic measures since September. The US set import taxes of up to 99 percent on imports of some Chinese steel products used in the oil industry, and China responded by looking into US car imports.

Hu said the two will “continue to have consultations on an equal footing to properly resolve economic and trade frictions."

Both China and the US want to resume talks on North Korea’s nuclear programme as soon as possible.

Hu said both are "committed to dialogue and consultation in resolving the Korean peninsula nuclear issue."

Obama said they “agreed on resuming the six-party talks process as soon as possible."

A joint statement released following the talks said Obama invited Hu for an official visit to the US some time next year.