Zoom Image

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen: "Fair rules"

Photo: Mark Schiefelbein / POOL / EPA

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen called on Beijing to become more involved in climate protection during her visit to China. China is in a position to help the world deal with the "existential threat" posed by climate change, Yellen told climate experts and government officials. Beijing and Washington must take the lead in helping poor countries meet their climate goals and cope with the effects of climate change.

Working together on climate action is an important task for the world's two largest greenhouse gas emitters and the largest investors in renewable energy, Yellen said. China emits more CO₂ than any other country, followed by the USA in second place in a global comparison.

China, which is classified as a developing country by the United Nations, has long held that it is up to developed countries to help poor countries cope with the climate crisis. However, Beijing is sticking to its position that it wants to compensate for losses and damage caused by the climate crisis on a voluntary basis.

Yellen wants healthy competition with "fair rules"

"Given the complicated global economic outlook, there is an urgent need for the two largest economies to communicate closely with each other and share our responses to various challenges," Yellen told Chinese Premier He Lifeng. This could "help both sides better understand the global economic outlook and make better decisions to strengthen our economies," she said.

At the same time, Yellen reiterated that Washington wants to ensure healthy competition with "fair rules" that will benefit both countries over time.

Relations between the U.S. and China are strained over several points of contention. These include China's backing for Russia's war in Ukraine, the ongoing trade war between the two countries, and threats from Beijing against Taiwan. China considers the democratic island state to be part of the People's Republic. In March, President Xi Jinping accused the US and its Western allies of wanting to curb China's rise.

ptz/Reuters