Kerry Concludes China Trip Calling Climate Talks ‘Productive’

Critics say Biden administration should never have agreed to these talks

U.S. climate envoy John Kerry attends a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Beijing on July 18, 2023. Florence Lo/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

U.S. climate envoy John Kerry said he had “extremely warm and productive” talks with high-level Chinese officials in Beijing, though “a little bit more work” is required to achieve “groundbreaking” initiatives.

Mr. Kerry delivered the remarks on July 19 as he wrapped up three days of climate talks in China. The conversations, which critics argue should never have occurred, didn’t produce a joint agreement.

‘More Work’

“But we had a very extensive set of frank conversations and realized that it’s going to take a little bit more work to break the new ground,” Mr. Kerry said in a briefing on Wednesday night. “So we’ve agreed that we’re going to meet intensively in the next weeks.”