Statement by leaders of world's two biggest polluters could breathe new life into Copenhagen climate change talks

This article is more than 10 years old

This article is more than 10 years old

The US and China, the world's two biggest polluters, today said they aimed to set targets for easing greenhouse gas emissions next month, potentially breathing new life into the flagging Copenhagen climate negotiations.

Days after the US president, Barack Obama, said time to secure a legally binding agreement had run out, he and the Chinese president, Hu Jintao, agreed at a summit that they would continue to press for a comprehensive deal at Copenhagen that would "rally the world".

"Our aim there, in support of what the prime minister [Lars Løkke] Rasmussen of Denmark is trying to achieve, is not a partial accord or a political declaration, but rather an accord that covers all of the issues in the negotiations and one that has immediate operational effect," Obama said after holding talks with Hu in Beijing.

In a joint communique, the leaders said an accord in Denmark should include emission reduction targets for rich nations and a declaration of action plans to ease greenhouse gas emissions in developing countries.

Countering concerns that a non-legal deal could evade many key issues, the communique said the climate talks should also increase financial assistance to developing countries, promote technology development, help poor communities to adapt and enhance forest protection.

The two governments also signed agreements to co-operate in the field of low-carbon technology, including the establishment of a joint research centre and the promotion of "cleaner coal" power plants, green buildings and electric cars.

Hu said China and the US had agreed to expand co-operation on climate change, energy and the environment and to "help produce positive outcomes out of the Copenhagen conference".

After weeks in which national leaders have been downplaying expectations for Copenhagen, environmental groups said today's words from the US and China – which between them account for 40% of the world's emissions – had gone some way towards restoring ambitions for the summit.

They called for specific targets to be met, but said more political will was needed to ensure a successful outcome.

During wide-ranging talks with Hu, Obama raised differences over Tibet, human rights, trade and Iran.

While Hu made a pointed reference to trade disputes, the overall focus of the two leaders was on collaboration as they lauded increased co-operation between the countries on issues such as the economy and non-proliferation.

Today's event had been described as a press conference, but no questions were allowed.

Instead, Hu and Obama delivered brief prepared comments on their discussions, which had lasted for two and a half hours.

Obama said the relationship between the US and China went "far beyond any single issue", while Hu described the meeting as "candid, constructive and very fruitful".

However, he added: "I stressed to President Obama that, under current circumstances, our two countries need to oppose and reject protectionism in all its manifestations in an even stronger stand."

Obama said China's partnership with the US had been critical to attempts to end the recession, but again stressed the importance of balanced economic growth and pointedly praised his hosts' commitment "to move towards a more market-oriented exchange rate over time".

China is angry about US steel pipe and tyre tariffs, and is also concerned that the US deficit could threaten its vast dollar holdings as the largest foreign lender to the country.

The US wants China to allow further appreciation of the renminbi in order to shift the huge trade imbalance.

Hu called on the US to respect China's "core interests" – a reference to Taiwan and Tibet.

Obama said the US accepted that Tibet was part of China, but went on to call for the early resumption of talks between Beijing and the Dalai Lama.

He also said the governments would resume their on-off human rights dialogue early next year.

Obama told reporters he had spoken to his counterpart "about Americans' bedrock belief that all men and women possess certain fundamental human rights" and stressed that these applied to "religious and ethnic minorities".

The US president thanked Hu for Chinese support for non-proliferation and the elimination of North Korea's nuclear programme, and the countries are focusing on restarting the collapsed six-party talks.

However, their differences on Iran were obvious, with Obama saying Tehran "has an opportunity to present and demonstrate its peaceful intentions, but if it fails to take this opportunity, there will be consequences".

Hu said only that the issue should be resolved through negotiations. Iran is a long-standing ally of China.

The Chinese leader will hold a state banquet in Obama's honour tonight.

• This article was amended on 17 November 2009. Due to an editing change the original named the Danish prime minister as Anders Fogh Rasmussen. This has been corrected.