V. Global Challenges

46. The two sides speak highly of the China-US Joint Presidential Statement on Climate Change issued during President Xi Jinping's state visit to the United States. Both sides will work together and with other countries to make the Paris Climate Change Conference a success. The two sides also reaffirm their determination to implement domestic climate policies, strengthen bilateral coordination and cooperation and promote sustainable development and the transition to green, low-carbon and climate-resilient economies. The two countries welcome the outcome of the First Session of the China-US Climate-Smart/Low-Carbon Cities Summit held in Los Angeles on September 15-16, 2015, and look forward to a successful Second Session to be held in Beijing in 2016.

47. The two sides, recognizing the importance and urgency of combating wildlife trafficking, commit to take positive measures to address this global challenge. China and the United States commit to enact nearly complete bans on ivory import and export, including significant and timely restrictions on the import of ivory as hunting trophies, and to take significant and timely steps to halt the domestic commercial trade of ivory. The two sides agreed to further cooperate in joint training, technical exchanges, information sharing and public education on combating wildlife trafficking, and enhance international law enforcement cooperation in this field. China and the United States agree to cooperate with other nations in a comprehensive effort to combat wildlife trafficking.

48. China and the United States agree that timely responses should be provided to requests for information and assistance concerning malicious cyber activities. Further, both sides agree to cooperate, in a manner consistent with their respective national laws and relevant international obligations, with requests to investigate cybercrimes, collect electronic evidence, and mitigate malicious cyber activity emanating from their territory. Both sides also agree to provide updates on the status and results of those investigation to the other side, as appropriate.China and the United States agree that neither country's government will conduct or knowingly support cyber-enabled theft of intellectual property, including trade secrets or other confidential business information, with the intent of providing competitive advantages to companies or commercial sectors.

Both sides are committed to making common effort to further identify and promote appropriate norms of state behavior in cyberspace within the international community. China and the United States welcome the July 2015 report of the UN Group of Governmental Experts in the Field of Information and Telecommunications in the Context of International Security, which addresses norms of behavior and other crucial issues for international security in cyberspace.

The two sides also agree to create a senior experts group for further discussions on this topic.China and the United States agree to establish a high-level joint dialogue mechanism on fighting cybercrime and related issues. China will designate an official at the ministerial level to be the lead and the Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of State Security, Ministry of Justice, and the State Internet and Information Office will participate in the dialogue. The US Secretary of Homeland Security and the US Attorney General will co-chair the dialogue, with participation from representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the US Intelligence Community and other agencies, for the United States.

This mechanism will be used to review the timeliness and quality of responses to requests for information and assistance with respect to malicious cyber activity of concern identified by either side. As part of this mechanism, both sides agree to establish a hotline for the escalation of issues that may arise in the course of responding to such requests. Finally, both sides agree that the first meeting of this dialogue will be held by the end of 2015, and will occur twice per year thereafter.

49. The two sides decided to continue to enhance communication and coordination in maritime and fishery affairs through such mechanisms as the Dialogue on Law of the Sea and Polar Issues and the Bilateral Dialogue on Fisheries. The two sides will continue to step up dialogue on ocean protection as well as polar science cooperation, and promote practical cooperation on ocean environment, including national ocean protection and ocean acidification monitoring and assessment. The two sides commit to expand joint research efforts, and will work together on the proposal to establish a Marine Protected Area (MPA) in Antarctica's Ross Sea.

The two sides plan to support the ocean cooperation through additional bilateral efforts, including a partnership between the coastal cities of Xiamen and Weihai in China and San Francisco and New York in the United States to share best practices to reduce the flow of trash into the ocean.