China and US progress on climate talks despite 'some differences', says Podesta

US, China make progress in climate talks (AFP)

US climate envoy John Podesta reported on Friday that China and the United States still have "some differences" on issues like climate finance but have made progress in narrowing them during this week's talks in Beijing.

"Notwithstanding some friction in our bilateral relationship, we can find places to collaborate for the good of our people and of our climate," Podesta told reporters following meetings with his Chinese counterpart Liu Zhenmin and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Climate cooperation between the world’s top two greenhouse gas emitters has been pivotal in building consensus for global agreements like the 2015 Paris Agreement. However, experts had low expectations for this week’s discussions, especially given uncertainties surrounding the outcome of the US presidential election.

Podesta noted that the two sides had "excellent discussions" regarding the upcoming COP29 climate talks in Baku, Azerbaijan, scheduled for November. A major focus will be reaching an agreement on a new fund to assist developing countries, a point of contention as the US aims to expand the fund’s contributor base, while China and other large developing countries worry this might "dilute" the obligations of wealthy nations.

Additionally, Podesta highlighted that the two countries discussed their plans to submit ambitious 2035 climate targets to the United Nations before the early next year deadline. The US is urging China to commit to significant CO2 emission cuts.

The two nations are also preparing for a bilateral summit to address non-CO2 greenhouse gases like methane. "They get less attention but they’re fully half of what’s causing global warming," Podesta remarked.

According to AFP report, Wang said on Friday the talks in Beijing had gone "smoothly", hailing "pragmatic results in cooperation".

"Both sides engaged in further dialogue and clarified the direction of our joint efforts," Wang said.

This sends "a positive signal to the outside world that as two major powers, China and the United States not only need to cooperate but can indeed work together", Wang said.

(Inputs from agencies)