China welcomes the expected return of the United States to the Paris Agreement on climate change under the incoming new U.S. administration of Joe Biden, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said Tuesday. 

Hua made the remarks at a daily news briefing in response to media reports that the incoming Biden team plans to sign an executive order to return to the Paris climate agreement. 

The Paris Agreement is the global pact reached five years ago among nearly 200 nations worldwide to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump formally withdrew the country from the agreement on November 4, 2020. 

Hua said climate change is a global challenge that requires joint efforts from the international community. China encourages all efforts that are conducive to international cooperation on climate change and will continue to work with the international community to actively implement the Paris Agreement on climate change and make greater contributions to the global response to climate change, she said. 

"China welcomes and looks forward to the return of the new U.S. administration to the Paris Agreement and its positive contribution to global climate governance," Hua said.