Earlier today, China’s parliament ratified the agreement, with President Xi saying his country was “solemnly” committed to the deal.
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A statement from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the two leaders compared notes on Sino-U.S. relations and on major worldwide and regional issues of mutual concerns in a “candid, in-depth and friendly manner”, with a series of “important consensus” reached between the duo.
Sunday, Obama is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Erdogan, where they will have their first discussions in the aftermath of a failed coup attempt in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation ally’s country in July, as well as their collaboration in the counter-ISIL campaign and efforts to promote greater stability in Syria, including the response to the continuing refugee crisis.
In particular, the building of a new type of major-country relations between China and the US has witnessed substantial progress over the past three years, he said.
Important progress was also made in fighting cyber crimes, coping with the Ebola epidemic in Africa, and facilitating a comprehensive agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue, Xi said. “Calm down, please. Calm down”, another White House official pleaded. He is scheduled to attend the G20 summit in China tomorrow.
He told Obama that China will stick to the direction of opening up and reform, and further facilitate foreign investment access.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday asked the U.S. to “play a constructive role” in maintaining peace and stability in the disputed South China Sea, asserting that Beijing will “unswervingly” safeguard its sovereignty over the area.
Xi said on Saturday that in order to take full advantage of the implementation of the Paris Agreement the worldwide community should make a greater effort to improve global governance mechanism and innovation on relevant.
They should also continue to actively expand practical collaboration between their militaries and local authorities, and in areas of counter corruption, law enforcement, cyber security, culture and United Nations peacekeeping, he said.
This global climate agreement will accelerate the growth of clean energy and help us achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and will strengthen worldwide stability and security, save lives and improve human well-being, he added.
China’s top legislature on Saturday also ratified the Paris agreement as lawmakers voted to adopt “the proposal to review and ratify” the legal document that outlines post-2020 global climate governance at the closing meeting of the week-long bimonthly session of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
I am hopeful and optimistic that we can do it before the end of this year and before my term as Secretary-General of the United Nations ends, he added.
China rejects criticism of its human rights record, arguing it has lifted millions out of poverty. “How dare you talk to us like that and talk about us like that?” she said.
“Ratifying the agreement accords with China’s policy of actively dealing with climate change”, according to the proposal, which added that addressing climate change would help the country realise sustainable development.
But then they got down to more thorny issues.
After more than four hours of meetings with Xi and his top officials, Obama emphasized the importance for China to “abide by its obligations” to an global maritime treaty in the dispute over rights to a territory rich in oil and fish through which $5 trillion in trade travels each year. During his eight-year presidency, the two countries have grappled with hacking incidents and differences over territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
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All parties should refrain from any act that could escalate regional tension and collectively make positive efforts to put the situation back on the right track.
