Beijing and Moscow respond to Joe Biden's criticism of their head of state's absence at COP26
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his counterpart Xi Jinping both shunned COP26 in Glasgow, from October 31 to November 12, 2021. AP - Ramil Sitdikov
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3 min
China and Russia responded on Wednesday (November 3) to Joe Biden's criticism of Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin's absence from COP26 in Glasgow scheduled until November 12.
Russians and Chinese have defended their "
concrete
" and "
serious
"
actions
against global warming.
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"
Actions speak more than words
", assured a spokesperson for Chinese diplomacy, Wang Wenbin on Wednesday, November 3, criticizing the "empty
words
" of the American president, who criticized the absence of President Xi at COP26 on Tuesday. in Glasgow. Wang underlined
his country's
“
concrete
”
commitments
against global warming. China, the world's largest polluter, is the country that invests the most in clean energy.
Moscow also rejected the criticisms emitted the day before, Tuesday, November 2, by the tenant of the White House: "
We do not agree
", thus supported the spokesman of the Kremlin, Dmitry Peskov.
Russia's actions against global warming "
are consistent, thoughtful and serious,
" he added.
"
How to claim any leadership?
"
"
I think it was a big mistake for China not to come
" and Xi Jinping "
lost an opportunity to influence people around the world,
" the US president said during a conference on Tuesday. press release at the end of his own visit to COP26.
It is a gigantic subject and [the Chinese] have turned their backs.
How can you do that and claim any kind of leadership?
"
Xi Jinping contented himself with a written message, posted on the conference website, no intervention by videoconference or video message being planned for the heads of state and government who did not make the trip.
"
He has very, very serious weather problems and he's not showing himself to be willing to do anything,
" Biden continued.
Before also criticizing the strong man of the Kremlin: "
It is the same thing for Vladimir Poutine
", the Russian president not having attended this meeting either.
►
See also: COP26: Biden praises the return of the United States to the climate negotiations
"
Practical problems
"
With global warming limited to +1.5 degrees in sight, states are under pressure to do more against climate change.
However, China and its Russian neighbor are among the most absent from a flagship agreement concluded Tuesday by a hundred countries to contain methane.
CH4 is the second greenhouse gas linked to human activity, mainly from livestock, fossil fuels and waste.
Above all, if it stays in the atmosphere for a shorter time, its warming effect is much greater than that of carbon dioxide, up to more than 80 times.
Representing more than 40% of global emissions of this powerful greenhouse gas, the signatory countries of the agreement have pledged to reduce emissions by at least 30% by 2030 compared to 2020 levels. It is "
a commitment that changes the game
," added Joe Biden.
Developing countries including China face "
practical problems
" to achieve these "
ambitious goals
", argued Wednesday the spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stressing in particular a "
lack of
suitable
technologies
".
(with
AFP)
►
To read also: Headlines: after a disappointing G20, COP26 opens in a gloomy climate in Glasgow
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Russia
China
United States
COP26
Joe biden
Vladimir Poutine
Xi Jinping
Weather
Climate change