After three days of climate talks with Chinese officials, US Climate Envoy John Kerry acknowledged political differences were obstructing cooperation between his country and China, the world’s biggest climate polluters.

Kerry concluded his Chinese visit by appealing for the climate crisis to be addressed as a stand-alone issue separate from politics if progress is to be made.

Climate talks between the two countries were suspended almost a year ago by China, angered by the visit last August of US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan.

According to the US State Department, Kerry’s visit was aimed at “increasing implementation and ambition and promoting a successful COP28”.

The 28th United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP28), the world’s climate change negotiating forum, is meeting in the United Arab Republic from 30 November to 12 December.

Despite its global commitments, China has made very little progress in cutting its greenhouse gas emissions, and is ranked “highly insufficient”, the second worst rating, by the Global Climate Tracker.

However, Chinese leader Xi Jinping told an environmental meeting on Thursday that his country was “accelerating greening and low-carbonization” but that it would achieve the climate goals at its own pace, according to the China People’s Daily.

Kerry’s visits took place amid scorching heat waves in Europe, Asia and US. China’s northwestern Xinjiang region recorded its highest temperature ever of 52.2C on Sunday.