Xi, Obama promise to ensure implementation of Paris climate deal

President Xi Jinping greets US President Barack Obama on the sidelines of the UN climate conference near Paris. Evan Vucci / AP

BEIJING - Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Barack Obama said Monday they are ready to work with each other and other relevant parties to make sure that the historic climate accord reached in Paris will be effectively implemented.

In a telephone conversation, Xi noted that the Paris deal, which resulted from concerted efforts of the international community, charts a clear course for global cooperation on fighting climate change from 2020.

China, the United States and other relevant parties maintained close coordination and jointly contributed to the success of the UN climate conference in Paris, Xi said, adding that the Paris meeting marked a new starting point in global response to climate change.

China is willing to work with the United States and other relevant parties to ensure the implementation of the Paris deal, and effectively expand pragmatic bilateral cooperation in tackling climate change so as to bring more benefits to the two peoples as well as people in other parts of the world, Xi said.

China wishes to maintain coordination and cooperation with the US side on major global issues, he added.

Obama also applauded the Paris climate deal, saying the United States and China as well as other relevant parties had strengthened coordination and cooperation in their efforts to secure the deal.

The US side stands ready to work with China and other relevant parties to make sure that the deal will go into effect and be implemented, Obama said.

US-China communication and cooperation over climate change have demonstrated that the two countries can conduct constructive cooperation in a wide range of global affairs, Obama said.