BEIJING: Senior officials and observers from around the world have been impressed by China’s enterprising diplomatic efforts in recent months in engaging wealthy nations as well as the most vulnerable countries in tackling the increasingly challenging global problem of climate change.
The climate-themed diplomacy, led by President Xi Jinping, illustrates the evolving Chinese solution and the fair, responsible approach sought by Beijing for dealing with the growing deficit of global governance, they said.
With July having been the hottest month ever recorded, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on July 27 that “the level of fossil fuel profits and climate inaction is unacceptable”, and “leaders must lead” with dramatic, immediate climate action to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5 C above preindustrial levels.
At bilateral meetings with visiting foreign leaders and at some major international events last month, Xi said that China understands the severe challenges facing vulnerable nations such as Pacific Island countries, and he vowed further action to ensure that global unity and efforts focusing on climate change do not lose steam.
Speaking with Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare on July 10, Xi said that China “stands ready to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with island countries in meteorological services, disaster prevention and reduction, clean energy and other fields”. In a meeting on July 28 with Mohamed Irfaan Ali, president of the Caribbean country of Guyana, Xi also touched on dealing with climate change.
Xi called on countries to “join hands to tackle global challenges such as climate change”, when delivering a toast at the welcoming banquet of the opening ceremony of the ongoing Chengdu FISU World University Games.
In addition, the past month witnessed senior Chinese officials’ dialogues with dignitaries of leading economies and major sources of carbon emissions in the world — such as the United States and the European Union, observers noted. In July, US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry visited China.
Premier Li Qiang told Kerry that all parties should “abide by the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities in addressing climate change”, developed countries should take the lead in reducing emissions and fulfill their financial commitments, and developing countries should make contributions within their capacity. Also in Beijing, Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang and European Commission Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans co-chaired the fourth EU-China High-Level Dialogue on Environment and Climate on July 4 and reached extensive common understandings. –The Daily Mail-China Daily exchange item
