Obama to meet with leaders of China, India at climate summit

David Jackson | USA TODAY

President Obama's visit next week to the climate change summit in Paris will include one-on-one meetings with the leaders of two other massive economies that are major polluters: China and India.

As officials from across the world gather in Paris to try and forge a global climate change agreement, Obama will sit down Monday with Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to his schedule.

"Clearly, U.S. cooperation with China is essential to successful efforts to combat climate change," said Ben Rhodes, Obama's deputy national security adviser for strategic communications.

Rhodes said the meeting of the world's "two largest emitters" should send "a strong message to the world about their shared commitment to combat climate change and to achieve an ambitious agreement."

Later on Monday, Obama has a similar meeting with India Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Rhodes noted that "we've been engaging with India throughout the year in determining how they can contribute constructively to a successful outcome in Paris."

Obama is scheduled to leave for Paris on Sunday and return to the White House on Tuesday.

While at the summit, Obama is also expected to meet Tuesday with the leaders of islands that are sinking because of climate change, a group that includes Seychelles, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, St. Lucia and Barbados.

"This will highlight the stakes involved at the Paris talks," Rhodes said, "given the existential challenge that these countries face from rising sea levels."