Aim of the Visit

John Kerry, special presidential envoy for climate, is scheduled to visit Beijing from July 16 to 19. The U.S. State Department announced that he aims to engage with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) on addressing the climate crisis, including increasing implementation and ambition, and promoting a successful COP28.

This trip will be the third time in a month that a high-level U.S. official has traveled to China for talks. The previous visits by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Secretary of State Antony Blinken mark a resumption of in-person communication that was disrupted due to the pandemic and geopolitical tensions.

Previous Talks and Their Outcomes

During Blinken’s trip to China, there was a general agreement on the need to increase flights between the two countries. However, military-to-military communication remains unreestablished. Blinken acknowledged the deep differences and areas of cooperation between the U.S. and China, which will continue to be discussed in future meetings.

Both the U.S. and China have acknowledged the potential for cooperation on climate and the macroeconomy. Climate talks between the two countries were suspended after Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, which had angered Beijing. However, communication on climate issues resumed after a meeting between President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

China’s special climate envoy, Xie Zhenhua, has participated in virtual meetings and events led by the U.S., demonstrating their commitment to addressing climate change.

Regarding Kerry’s upcoming trip to Beijing, details about which Chinese officials he will meet have not been specified. However, both sides will “exchange views on cooperation for tackling climate change,” according to China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment.

In June, the average national temperature in China was 0.7 degrees Celsius (33 degrees Fahrenheit) higher than the previous year, making it the second-hottest June since 1961, as reported by the China Meteorological Administration. Beijing has experienced daily temperature highs nearing 37.8 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit) and other parts of the country have faced heavy rainfall and flash floods.

Record heat and drought in Canada have also led to wildfires, resulting in smoky air spreading over cities in the U.S.