US China President Meet Reach Deal on Climate Change

11/16/2014 2:14:31 AM

(MENAFN- Qatar News Agency) Beijing November 12 (QNA) - Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday hold talks with his US counterpart Barack Obama underscoring commitment to building a new type of major-country relations between the world's two largest economies.

"China would like to work with the United States to implement the principle of no conflict no confrontation mutual respect cooperation and common prosperity and make new type of major-country relations between the two countries produce more benefits to people in the two countries and the world" Xi said. "I would make joint efforts with President Obama." Saying this year marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of China-US relations Xi said bilateral relations now stand at a new starting point according to (Xinhua) news agency.

At the end of a trade summit in China US President Barack Obama announced a climate change agreement with Chinese President Xi Jinping that would cut both countries' greenhouse gas emissions by close to a third over the next two decades the (CNN) reported.

Under the agreement the United States would cut between 26-28% of the level of its carbon emissions set in 2005 by 2025 and China would do the same by 2030.

The US administration hopes the announcement by the two superpowers will spur other nations to do the same. The White House said the ultimate target is to "achieve deep economy-wide reductions on the order of 80% by 2050." In a statement the White House said the announcement marks the first time China has agreed to cut its carbon emissions and said the Chinese are calling for "an energy revolution" that would include a broad economic reform program that would address air pollution.

China has agreed to provide an "additional 800-1000 gigawatts of nuclear wind solar and other zero emission generation capacity by 2030 more than all the coal-fired power plants that exist in China today and close to total current electricity generation capacity in the United States." During Obama's visit the Chinese government closed factories and gave employees time off to reduce car traffic and ultimately emissions in Beijing. The reduction of smog and the appearance of blue skies was noted by media throughout the APEC Summit.

Another senior administration official said that historically the United States and China have often been seen as antagonists so this "should send a powerful message" and "will usher in a new day where the US and China can work as partners." (QNA)

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