US official: Obama’s climate talks with Chinese premier take ’step forward’ in Copenhagen

more images

more images

more images

more images

US official: Obama, Chinese take ’step forward’

COPENHAGEN — A U.S. official says talks between President Barack Obama and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao have moved a “step forward” toward a possible climate deal.

Both leaders directed their negotiators to work on a possible deal after meeting for nearly an hour Friday at the U.N. climate conference in Copenhagen.

The senior Obama administration official spoke on condition of anonymity to more freely characterize the talks.

Obama and Wen discussed emissions targets, financing and transparency.

China has been criticized during the summit for not offering stronger carbon emissions targets and for resisting international monitoring of its actions.