Talks ahead of Biden’s climate summit

Less than a week before the virtual climate summit of 17 states organized by US President Joe Biden, the preliminary talks are in full swing. On Friday, China’s President Xi Jinping spoke on the phone with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron. At the same time, US climate envoy John Kerry was in Shanghai for two days of talks with his counterpart Xie Zhenhua, China’s most experienced climate diplomat. President Xi did not meet Kerry, however, not even virtually – preferring to meet with the Europeans.