Climate meetings scheduled between China and US in Washington during May.

The United States and China are set to hold climate meetings in Washington in May, as announced by U.S. climate change diplomat John Podesta. The meeting will involve discussions with his Chinese counterpart Liu Zhenmin, marking a resumption of bilateral talks on climate cooperation amidst ongoing tensions related to trade and security.

Liu Zhenmin’s visit to Washington will be his first since assuming his new role after veteran climate envoy Xie Zhenhua stepped down due to health reasons in January. Podesta and Liu have previously communicated since Liu’s appointment as the top U.S. climate diplomat earlier this year, with formal talks yet to take place.

According to sources, Liu is scheduled to be in Washington from May 8 to May 10, with potential travel to New York as well. China’s foreign ministry has confirmed Liu’s upcoming visit to the U.S., as mentioned in a readout from Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s recent trip to China.

Past envoys Kerry and Xie played crucial roles in facilitating agreements at the COP28 Climate Summit in Dubai, working on bilateral language that paved the way for a global transition away from fossil fuels. Despite tensions between the U.S. and China, they maintained a diplomatic channel open for climate change discussions.

The upcoming meetings between the U.S. and China signify a renewed commitment to addressing climate challenges on a global scale. Stay tuned for more updates on this important issue.