Foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Neither side should expect to wantonly interfere in China's internal affairs and undermine China's interest, while at the same time demanding China's support in bilateral and global affairs, said China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday.

"China-US cooperation in specific areas is not just 'a flower in a greenhouse.' It is bound to be closely related to the overall China-US relations. China hopes the US can create favorable conditions for China-US coordination and cooperation in important areas," Zhao Lijian, spokesperson for the ministry, noted at a daily press briefing on Thursday.

The response came after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry said on several occasions on Wednesday that the US hopes to cooperate with China on climate change. However, at the same time, Kerry said, it is obvious that the US has many serious differences with China, which will never be traded for anything that has to do with climate.

Climate change is a common challenge facing mankind which impacts on the future of mankind. No country can solve it alone. It requires global action, response and cooperation, said Zhao.

"China and the US have broad common interests and room for cooperation in the field of climate change. The two countries have conducted fruitful cooperation in addressing climate change. China and the US have played a positive and constructive role in promoting the signing and entry into the Paris Agreement," he noted.

China is ready to work with the US and the international community to address climate change, according to the ministry.

Chinese netizens expressed their disappointment toward Kerry's speech, which they regarded as lacking in sincerity on cooperation for climate change.

"The earth is our home. Kerry, please don't make climate change another card to contain China," a Chinese netizen wrote on Sina Weibo.

  

"How can the US want to interfere in China's internal affairs and at the same time demand our support?" another said.

"Kerry said China produces 30 percent of the global carbon emissions and the US produces 15 percent. Why he didn't mention that China has 1.4 billion residents and the population of the US is only 328 million? We refuse such double standards," one said.