China mulls bid to host 2028 UN climate talks 

WASHINGTON, Aug 22: China is mulling a bid to host UN climate talks in 2028, two sources familiar with the matter told AFP Friday, as it seeks to burnish its reputation as a leader in the fight against global warming.

Beijing has not yet made a final decision regarding the proposal for the COP33 summit, both sources said, nor is there a clear timeline for doing so. The host does not have to be decided this year.

China's interest was first reported by Bloomberg News.

The UN's annual climate gatherings rotate among regional blocs. This year's COP31 is scheduled to take place in Turkey, followed by COP32 in Ethiopia in 2027.

The 2028 summit falls to the Asia-Pacific. In April, India withdrew its offer to host COP33 without specifying a reason. South Korea has previously expressed interest.�" AFP