Clinton Says Climate SolutionsShould Be Central to U.S.-China Relations

Speaking in Beijing, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton invited China to join the U.S. in making greenhouse gas reductions a key aspect of bilateral relations. Clinton made her remarks while touring an efficient, gas-fired power plant that uses sophisticated turbines made by the U.S. firm, General Electric. “The opportunities for us to work together are unmatched anywhere in the world,” said Clinton. She told her Chinese hosts that “we hope you won’t make the same mistakes as we made,” adding, “Now we’re smart enough to figure out how to have the right kind of growth.” The Obama administration and many China experts believe that climate change can become the centerpiece of broader relations with China. Joining Clinton on her China trip was her special envoy for climate change, Todd Stern, who noted that the U.S. and China now account for 40 percent of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions. He said it was crucial that the two countries work to reduce greenhouse gases. “This is not a matter of politics or morality or right or wrong,” said Stern. “It is simply the unforgiving math of accumulating emissions.”