U.S. climate envoy John Kerry has arrived in China for a four-day visit aimed at reviving efforts to combat global warming. This marks the third visit by a senior official from the Biden administration in recent weeks, as the U.S. seeks to repair ties strained by trade disputes, military tensions, and accusations of spying. Kerry's visit is focused on restarting negotiations on climate change between the two countries, which are the world's largest greenhouse gas emitters.

During his visit, Kerry plans to meet with his Chinese counterpart, Xie Zhenhua, and other high-level officials to discuss various climate issues. The talks will center around reducing methane emissions, limiting coal use, curbing deforestation, and assisting developing countries in addressing climate change. Additionally, the discussions may touch upon trade restrictions on Chinese solar panel and battery components.

However, there are significant divisions between the U.S. and China regarding the pace at which each country should reduce fossil fuel emissions. While the U.S. has committed to cutting emissions by half by 2030, China's emissions continue to grow, although President Xi Jinping has pledged to peak carbon pollution by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.

The Republican Party has criticized Kerry's trip, accusing him of making "closed-door deals" with China and undermining U.S. interests. Nevertheless, Kerry emphasizes the importance of China's collaboration in combating climate change and urges them to accelerate the phase-out of coal, address deforestation, and reduce methane emissions.

The talks between the U.S. and China on climate change follow Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen's recent discussions with top Chinese officials, which she described as productive in putting the relationship between the two countries on a "surer footing." Although significant disagreements remain, particularly regarding economic practices and Beijing's actions against U.S. firms, Yellen believes that the world is big enough for both countries to thrive and that the Biden administration does not view the relationship through the lens of great power conflict.

The Biden administration is making diplomatic efforts to stabilize its relationship with China, as the rivalry between the two countries has had implications for companies, trade ties, and their respective allies. A possible meeting between President Biden and President Xi Jinping is being considered for later this year, potentially at the Group of 20 summit in September or the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation gathering in November.

Overall, the visits by senior U.S. officials to China have covered a range of topics but have not yet resulted in clear breakthroughs. The success of Kerry's trip in restarting global warming negotiations and fostering cooperation on climate change will be crucial in addressing the urgent challenge of the global climate crisis.