BEIJING, July 9 — US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen called for an improvement in relations between major powers United States and China in order to jointly counter climate change and other global threats during a state visit to China, reported German news agency dpa.
“Climate change is at the top of the list of global challenges, and the United States and China must work together to address this existential threat,” Yellen said in Beijing on Saturday, according to her ministry.
At the same time, Yellen called on China to become more involved in financing efforts to combat climate change and to support existing instruments such as climate investment funds.
After a meeting with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, Yellen said that the complicated global economic outlook requires more cooperation between the world’s two largest economies.
Disagreements between the US and China should not be allowed to create misunderstandings that could harm economic ties between the countries, Yellen said.
Yellen advocated “healthy economic competition” and made it clear that the US would continue to take action to protect national security.
Yellen is in China on a four-day visit. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also visited the Chinese capital in May.
Relations between the two world powers are currently particularly strained due to conflicts on various issues, including the Ukraine war, US trade policy and territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
