The increasingly assertive China which emerged at the recent UN climate talks in Tianjin has thrust the country's climate negotiators into the limelight.
The two co-chairmen of Beijing's delegation bring different talents to the table, which observers say makes them a highly effective team in the good cop, bad cop mould.
The soft-spoken, calm and smiling demeanour of newly appointed Foreign Ministry special representative for climate negotiations Dr Huang Huikang contrasts sharply with that of Su Wei , China's chief negotiator, from the National Development and Reform Commission, the country's top planning authority.
Su made a name for himself with his fiery and combative remarks at the Copenhagen summit last year, where nearly 200 world leaders failed to cut a binding deal aimed at curbing the emission of greenhouse gases blamed for global warming.
Huang, a scholar turned diplomat who attended only his second round of UN climate talks last month, said he was torn between anxiety and hope over the deadlocked negotiation process.
'By hosting the talks, China is not inviting negotiators around the world to come to have a taste of Go Believe steamed buns, or goubuli in Chinese, [one of Tianjin's most famous snacks]. China hopes to make its own contribution to the talks and the Tianjin round of negotiations can point us in the right direction,' he said.