Vice premier meets Obama's adviser on climate change

Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli met with U.S. President Barack Obama's adviser John Podesta, vowing to make their cooperation in countering climate change a highlight of bilateral relations in Beijing on Tuesday.

Facilitating climate change cooperation between China and the United States, the largest developing and developed country in the world, meets the common interests of both and helps the healthy growth of bilateral ties, Zhang said.

He urged both countries to stick to the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities" to jointly cope with climate change, and to further enhance dialogue on respective domestic policies and international negotiations based on respecting each other's core concerns.

"We hope China and the United States can enhance substantial cooperation and make climate change cooperation a highlight of China-U.S. new model of major-country relationship," Zhang said.

Podesta said both the United States and China attached great importance to countering climate change.

This year marks the 35th anniversary of normalization of U.S.-China ties. Podesta said the United States wishes for progress in bilateral climate change cooperation, which should be made an important pillar in building the new model of relations between two major countries.