China confirms Xi Jinping will attend Biden’s Earth Day climate summit

Chinese president will address virtual meeting of 40 world leaders organised by the White House to tackle climate change

Attendance signals chance for US-China cooperation as well as Beijing’s intention to take a leadership role on the issue

Reading Time:3 minutes

President Xi Jinping will deliver a speech at a virtual climate change summit of world leaders on Thursday. Photo: AP

Published: 10:03am, 21 Apr 2021Updated: 12:39pm, 21 Apr 2021

President Xi Jinping will attend a virtual climate change summit hosted by his US counterpart Joe Biden on Thursday, the Chinese foreign ministry has confirmed.

His attendance is a sign of cooperation between the US and China, after years of deteriorating relations on a range of issues, as well as a signal of Beijing’s intention to take a leadership position on the issue.

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Xi would attend the Earth Day virtual summit of 40 world leaders and deliver a speech through video link.

Climate change is seen as one area where China and the US can work together, despite their escalating rivalry in almost every other aspect of their bilateral ties.

US special envoy for climate change John Kerry met with his Chinese counterpart Xie Zhenhua and vice-premier Han Zheng last week in Shanghai, during which the two sides said they were committed to cooperating with each other to tackle climate crisis.

But China has also upped the ante, with Han calling on the US to shoulder more responsibility.