Chinese, French presidents reach deal on climate change

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BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping and his French counterpart Francois Hollande issued a joint statement on climate change in Beijing vowing to promote a working program to accelerate pre-2020 efforts in mitigation, adaptation and support during the Paris climate summit.

They called for a better transparency system to build trust and confidence in the Paris pact, as well as means to review the actions and support of various parties.

France will host the climate summit in Paris (COP21) in December, which is largely expected to result in a global and binding agreement on addressing climate change.

Hollande is visiting China ahead of the summit to seek China’s support for a new climate change deal in Paris.

The two presidents reaffirmed joint efforts to push forward an ambitious and “legally binding” Paris agreement on the basis of equity and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.

“China is committed to ensuring the success of the climate conference,” Xi told Hollande in their talks.