The US and China today agreed to work together to phase down the consumption and production of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) or "super greenhouse" gases as part of their joint effort against climate change.
"For the first time, the US and China will work together and with other countries to use the expertise and institutions of the Montreal Protocol to phase down the consumption and production of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), among other forms of multilateral cooperation," the White House said.
"A global phase down of HFCs could potentially reduce some 90 gigatons of CO2 equivalent by 2050, equal to roughly two years' worth of current global greenhouse gas emissions," the White House said at the conclusion of the two-day US China summit at Palm springs in California.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, departed after holding series of meetings with the US President Barack Obama over the past two days in the Californian resort near Los Angeles.
"Regarding HFCs, the US and China agreed to work together and with other countries through multilateral approaches that include using the expertise and institutions of the Montreal Protocol to phase down the production and consumption of HFCs, while continuing to include HFCs within the scope of UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol provisions for accounting and reporting of emissions," the agreement said.
Earlier in the day Obama and Xi had their last bilateral meeting.
Obama and Xi, with their suit coats back on but still no ties, sat in the middle of a long table with their translators and delegations flanking them.
The morning meeting concluded around 11:30 am (local time).
The two Presidents then sat down for tea with Madame Peng, the first lady of China and Madame Ni, the wife of the Chinese ambassador. The Chinese delegation departed Sunnylands shortly after noon.
Before the meeting, the two leaders walked out of the main house at Sunnylands to take a stroll outside. Obama wore a blue shirt, open collar and sleeves rolled up, and brown slacks.
Xi wore a white shirt, open collar, sleeves buttoned down at wrist, and black pants.
Obama and Xi exchanged words as they walked out of the house, with interpreters followed the leaders translating behind them.
"Terrific" Obama replied as a US reporter shouted: "How have the meetings gone, Mr President?"