China's threats against Taiwan's self-government, disagreements over tariffs, access to technology, human rights, and other issues have caused relations between the U.S. and China to reach an all-time low.
On July 18, U.S. climate envoy John Kerry informed China's senior diplomat that the Joe Biden administration is "very committed" to repairing the strained ties between the two largest economies in the world.
Mr. Kerry met with Wang Yi, the head of international relations for the country's ruling Communist Party, on his second day of discussions in Beijing, and expressed to him Mr. Biden's desire that the two nations might "achieve efforts together that can make a significant difference to the world."
As a result of disagreements over tariffs, technological access, human rights, and China's threats against Taiwan's self-government, relations between the two nations have reached an all-time low.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Wang stated that although there had been a communication gap between the parties, China now thinks that by starting up again, "we can find a proper solution to any problems"
Mr. Wang added that the conversation needed to be held on a "equal basis" and that "small problems can sometimes grow into big problems."
That seemed to be a reference to American criticism of China's assertive foreign policy, human rights violations against Muslim and Buddhist minorities, and travel bans on officials including the Defence Minister and the Hong Kong leader nominated by Beijing.
According to Mr. Kerry, he is grateful for the chance to "change our relationship for the better" and Mr. Biden is "very committed to stability within this relationship and also to achieve efforts together that can make a significant difference to the world."
President Xi "looks forward to being able to move forward and change the dynamic," Mr. Kerry said of Mr. Biden. President Xi "values his relationship with President Biden, and I think President Xi values his relationship with President Biden."
Later, Mr. Kerry paid a courtesy call on the party's second-ranking official and recently appointed Premier Li Qiang, who advised him that China and the U.S. should work more closely together to address the "extremely large challenge" faced by global warming. A meeting with Mr. Xi has not been scheduled, and China's foreign minister Qin Gang has been hidden from view for three weeks.
No immediate comments have been made regarding Mr. Kerry's Monday meeting with his colleague Xie Zhenhua, which marked the start of intensive face-to-face climate talks between officials of the two worst climate polluters in the world after a break of almost a year.
China is the world's largest producer and consumer of coal. It has continued to construct new plants that release tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every year and has increased its reliance on renewable energy sources like solar and wind power.
By 2030, China has promised to stabilise its carbon dioxide emissions, and by 2060, it will achieve carbon neutrality. China has been asked by the United States and the European Union to embrace more aggressive reduction goals.
China has seen record-breaking heat waves that have damaged crops and caused cities to open Cold War-era bomb shelters to provide citizens with an escape from the heat, similar to what has happened in the U.S. and Europe. The generation of the gas methane is seen as one of the main causes of the climate change that Mr Kerry is focusing on, along with the combustion of fossil fuels.
China has come under fire from U.S. lawmakers for refusing to reduce climate-damaging fossil fuel emissions more drastically and for arguing that because it is still developing and emits far less pollution per person than developed Western economies, it should be exempt from the climate standards set by those nations.
