CHINA and the United States crossed swords in Beijing today over which of the world’s two main carbon emitters had the greater responsibility to cut emissions.

Beijing’s chief climate official Xie Zhenhua said that China should not be subject to the same rules for greenhouse gas emissions as rich countries, signalling that it will oppose any attempt to impose them at next year’s world climate conference.

“We are in different development stages. We have different historical responsibilities and we have different capacities,” said Mr Xie.

US special envoy Todd Stern said that Washington favours every country deciding what it is capable of doing instead of being categorised either as a developed country or a developing country in deciding what contribution it should make.

He made clear that this had not found favour with his hosts, noting: “It’s one of those conversations that just goes on and on, doesn’t stop.”

Despite strategic differences, the two countries announced eight joint projects aimed at capturing and storing carbon and setting up more efficient energy grids.

They agreed to stronger fuel efficiency standards for cars and trucks and to study gas use in industrial boilers.

The US and China have been at odds for years over how much each should contribute to reducing climate change. 

China insists as a developing country it shouldn’t be held to the same stringent emissions caps as the rich world. 

Washington says that failing to address the problem sufficiently means that China is now the world’s biggest emitter of carbon dioxide.