U.S. climate envoy calls his Chinese counterpart 'capable advocate'

U.S. climate envoy John Kerry said on Thursday he expected to speak to his Chinese counterpart Xie Zhenhua soon and called him a "capable advocate" for his country on the issue of global warming.

Xie led the Chinese delegation in global climate negotiations from 2007 to 2018 and was recognized for playing a key role in forging the Paris Agreement.

"I know him very well because I've worked with him for ... 20 years or so," Kerry, former secretary of state, told Reuters in an interview. "He's been a long time ... leader and a believer, we know each other and have respect for, I think, each other's efforts thus far."