ENERGY SECRETARY Ed Miliband arrived in Beijing today to restart climate talks with the world’s largest investor in and supplier of renewable energy.

The first formal talks between a British energy minister and China since 2017 come as the US retreats from green diplomacy under President Donald Trump.

Mr Miliband and Chinese ministers Wang Hongzhi and Huang Runqiu will discuss working together to reduce climate-warming emissions, the government said.

China has signalled plans to take a more central role at the UN climate conference in Azerbaijan in November.

The visit supports wider government efforts to establish a closer economic relationship with China alongside Britain’s stated aim to become a “clean energy superpower” by 2030.

Writing in the Guardian, Mr Miliband said that he was travelling to Beijing “to urge continued action from China, the world’s biggest emitter – responsible for about 30 per cent of global emissions – to tackle the climate emergency.

“I will be meeting Chinese ministers for frank conversations about how both countries can fulfil the aims of the Paris climate agreement, to which both countries are signed up.

“Frankly, I consider it to be negligence towards today’s and future generations not to engage China on this topic.”

Carlos Martinez, from Friends Of Socialist China, told the Morning Star: “That Miliband is visiting China and is exploring opportunities for co-operation around the climate emergency is of course positive.

“The idea that the West can solve the climate crisis while simultaneously ‘decoupling’ from China is beyond absurd.

“Chinese investment and innovation have resulted in an estimated 90 per cent reduction in the cost of solar power globally over the last decade.

“Meanwhile it's Miliband’s own government that's basing its growth strategy on the expansion of the arms industry (rather than pursuing a Green New Deal), justified to the public by the scarecrow of Vladimir Putin.

“British politicians should not be hectoring their Chinese counterparts.”

Friends of the Earth head of policy Mike Childs said: “It’s encouraging to see the UK leading the way on climate diplomacy, particularly given Trump’s alarming climate rollbacks.

“China is a world leader when it comes to producing renewable energy technologies, batteries and electric vehicle manufacturing.

“The UK is lagging behind in these industries, so it’s only logical to explore partnership opportunities with China.

“Developing the solutions to a global problem like the climate emergency requires all countries to co-operate and work together if we’re to prevent the worst impacts.”