Xie Zhenhua, China's special representative on climate change

China's top climate advisor Xie Zhenhua will serve as China's special envoy on climate change. An office on climate issues will also be launched which will be affiliated to the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), the ministry confirmed Thursday.

The appointment shows China's focus of attention on issues of climate change and determination to communicate and cooperate with other countries on said issues, Liu Youbin, spokesperson of the MEE, said at the press conference on Thursday.

Xie was China's Special Advisor for Climate Change Affairs and a leading figure on China's climate-related diplomacy. He participated in international climate change negotiations, playing a key role in the signing of the Paris Agreement in 2015.

He was the head of the State Environmental Protection Administration from 1993 to 2005.

Xie has been active on the global stage on climate change issues and has gained great recognition in this particular circle. 

US climate envoy John Kerry said in early February that he expected to speak to Xie soon and called him a "leader" and a "capable advocate" for his country on the issue of global warming, Reuters reported.

Global Times