Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker at the 18th bilateral summit between the EU and China, held last year in Beijing | Ng Han Guan/AFP via Getty Images EU and China commit to deeper climate cooperation as US turns away ‘The EU and China consider climate action and the clean energy transition an imperative,’ said a statement.

The EU and China are set to pledge deeper cooperation on the Paris climate agreement and to promote clean energy technologies, according to a draft leaders' statement for their summit on Thursday and Friday seen by POLITICO.

"The EU and China consider climate action and the clean energy transition an imperative," according to the statement. "Stepping up action will provide both sides with significant opportunities."

Their commitments to step up efforts to cut emissions and implement the deal come as President Donald Trump is planning to pull the U.S. out of the Paris climate deal, according to a White House official. Trump later tweeted that he’ll make an announcement in the coming days.

In the wake of a broader U.S. retreat from its traditional international role, the two will also stress the importance of "developing global free trade and investment" and multilateralism, according to the draft.

The leaders' separate and explicit statement on climate change and clean energy is meant to show that the EU and China are stepping up as the U.S. makes a U-turn on its own climate policy.

"The fact that they're taking the time and effort to come up with a declaration of cooperation is the most important part," said Wendel Trio of the Climate Action Network Europe.

China has been a vocal advocate for climate action in recent months, a change from its previous "climate bad boy" reputation, Li Shuo of Greenpeace China told reporters today.

The text was prepared ahead of a meeting of EU country ambassadors today.