Beijing:
Former US Vice President Al Gore said on Wednesday that cooperation between China and the US, the world's two biggest emitters of greenhouse gases, is crucial to tackling the climate change crisis.
"The strategic partnership between the United States and China, as it is beginning to emerge, is a fateful one, an important one, a crucial one, if the world is going to be successful in addressing this crisis," said Gore in a speech to a clean energy forum in Beijing.
His remarks come less than two months before December's global climate conference in Copenhagen that aims to replace UN's 1997 Kyoto Protocol on cutting greenhouse gas missions.
Gore said a clear understanding of the global warming threat and a full commitment to renewable energy were key.
"There is no more worthy goal for our two great nations," said Gore, who shared the Nobel Peace Price in 2007 for his efforts to combat global warming.
Pressure has been mounting for the US to put together its position before the UN conference. Gore said he was confident the US Senate would pass a climate change bill before the conference and said a watered-down House bill could be amended later to strengthen its provisions.
He said that while any global pact reached in Copenhagen was bound to disappoint many, it would likely be replaced by something stronger once the business community got on board.
"I choose to be optimistic," said Gore.
Wealthy nations are seeking broad controls on emissions from all countries in the new pact, while developing countries say tough emissions limits would likely hamper their economic grow and that industrialised nations should carry most of the burden.