China welcomes the return of the US to the Paris Agreement and the World Health Organization (WHO), said Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying on Thursday, expressing China's aspiration to work with the US on global low-carbon transition and enforcing cooperation with other countries.

Hua made the remarks at a daily briefing on Thursday in response to US President Joe Biden signing an executive order to rejoin the Paris climate agreement and the WHO on the first day of his presidency.

China welcomes the US rejoining the Paris Agreement and expects the US to make positive contributions to combating climate change, Hua said. 

"China is willing to work with the US side and the international community to meet common challenges, jointly promote the full and effective implementation of the Paris Agreement, work together to build a win-win, fair and reasonable climate governance system, and contribute to the global low-carbon transformation and green post-pandemic recovery," said Hua.

Regarding the US to withdraw the decision of quitting the World Health Organization, Hua said, "Against the grim situation of the raging COVID-19 pandemic, we welcome the return of the US to WHO, and we are willing to strengthen cooperation with the US and other countries."

"This morning, as I watched the fireworks display and heard the crowd cheering at the inauguration party, I did feel somewhat emotional. Indeed, it has been a very rough patch," Hua said during the press conference. "The people of China and the US deserve a better future."