DHAKA: China’s President Xi Jinping is set to unveil a landmark pledge on climate change and curbing harmful emissions.

White House officials have said, reports the BBC.

The moves come after Xi arrived in Washington DC for the next leg of his week-long US tour.

Xi and US President Barack Obama held informal talks at the White House on Thursday evening, where they also discussed Iran’s nuclear program.

The visit has been overshadowed by ongoing cyber security disagreements.

On Friday, Xi - who is making his first state visit to the US - will be hosted at the White House for a banquet, with a 21-gun salute.

A White House official told reporters that Xi would announce on Friday plans to launch a national carbon emissions trading scheme in 2017.

The ‘cap-and-trade’ scheme would see Chinese companies charged to emit pollutants beyond a certain level.

BDST: 1032 HRS, SEPT 25, 2015
RR