"The Chinese side is closely following the situation with the US decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement. We also paid attention to the UN statement, as well as the statements of the other countries’ leaders. As for the Chinese side, we believe that the Paris Agreement represents the broadest consensus of the international community on climate change. We believe that all countries should value and protect the hard-won result of this agreement," Hua said at a briefing.
She also said comments from the international community on China's efforts in promoting the Paris Agreement were generally positive.
"President Xi Jinping during his visit to the UN headquarters in Geneva also stressed that China would fully fulfill its obligations to combat climate change," the ministerial spokeswoman said, adding that China continues to adhere to its obligations under the Paris Agreement.
UN environment chief Erik Solheim said on May 31 in an interview with NPR that India and China were showing strong leadership to combat climate change. At the same time, Solhein also noted that the pressure on China from the international community would increase.
In recent years, China has been closing excessive coal and steelmaking capacities, as well as suspending polluting enterprises in some provinces to eliminate heavy smog.
The Paris Agreement, the first global climate agreement signed by 194 countries in December 2015, defines a global plan of action to contain global warming. It does not involve the abandonment of fossil fuels or the limitation of carbon dioxide emissions, but all parties should take measures to reduce emissions, provide technological re-equipment and adapt to climate change.
