China, US to form group on climate change

The United States and China are to set up a joint working group on climate change and have a shared view on the "increasing dangers" of global warming.

The two countries "recognise that the increasing dangers presented by climate change measured against the inadequacy of the global response requires a more focused and urgent initiative", they said in a statement issued in Beijing on Saturday.

The initiative came as US Secretary of State John Kerry visited Beijing for talks with top leaders focused largely on the nuclear crisis on the Korean peninsula.

But the issue of how to deal with climate change has long vexed relations between the world's two biggest economies, which are also the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases.

China says developing countries, which emit far less carbon per capita, should not have to bear the same burden as advanced economies in tackling the problem.

"By agreeing to raise the issue of climate change and energy policy to the ministerial level … we put on an accelerated basis at a higher level our joint efforts with respect to energy and climate," Kerry said.

"And I think that globally that will be a very significant step and significant message."