Washington, DC - Secretary Kerry spoke by phone today with Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi in advance of the climate conference in Paris that begins later this month.

The Secretary and State Councilor agreed on the need for close cooperation between the United States and China in order to achieve an ambitious and effective agreement. Both agreed to build on the common vision laid out by President Obama and President Xi in the U.S.-China Joint Statement on Climate Change on September 25, 2015. The two agreed to stay in close touch in the days ahead.