BEIJING — China and the United States still have “some differences” on issues such as climate finance but have made progress in narrowing them during talks this week, U.S. climate envoy John Podesta said in Beijing on Friday. “Notwithstanding some friction in our bilateral relationship, we can find places to collaborate for the good of our people and of our climate,” Podesta told reporters after meetings with his Chinese counterpart, Liu Zhenmin, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Podesta said the two sides had “excellent discussions” on the upcoming COP29 climate talks in Baku, Azerbaijan, in November, where agreement on a major new fund to help developing countries will be a top priority. The U.S. is seeking to broaden the fund’s contributor base, but China and other large developing countries are concerned that such a move will “dilute” the obligations of rich nations.