Senior diplomat Sherman hopes U.S., China climate cooperation can continue at "difficult time"

Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman listens to lawmaker’ statements during a U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing about at the government's policy towards China in “the era of strategic competition” at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., February 9, 2023. REUTERS/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said on Thursday she hoped that Washington and Beijing would be able to continue to work together on climate "at this difficult time."

She listed to a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing areas of potential cooperation with China including fighting the illicit drugs trade, climate, global health and people-to-people exchanges.

Assistant Secretary of Defence for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Ely Ratner and Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman listen to lawmaker’ statements during a U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing about at the government's policy towards China in “the era of strategic competition” at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., February 9, 2023. REUTERS/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades

(This story has been refiled to fix typo and reference to climate in lead)

(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Doina Chiacu and Chizu Nomiyama)

Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman speaks to Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) before a U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing about at the government's policy towards China in “the era of strategic competition” at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., February 9, 2023. REUTERS/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades