The world expects the United States and China to work together as the two largest economies, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said today at a summit in Paris to ease the debt of poor countries and release capital for climate finance.

“As the world’s two largest economies, we have a responsibility to work together on global issues,” he told a panel at the summit that included, among other leaders, Chinese Premier Li Chiang. “It’s something we can do and something people expect from us,” he added.

As reported by Reuters, Li Chiang called on China and Europe to “rise above differences” and find “creative solutions” to global problems such as climate change and the fight against poverty.

“China will categorically reject trade protectionism and all forms of decoupling and cutting off supply chains,” Li said on the final day of the two-day meeting, adding that China would continue to take practical steps to support developing countries.

Debt relief for some of the world’s most vulnerable countries while finding ways to unlock billions of dollars in new climate finance are critical goals of the session. “China is ready to engage in debt relief efforts in an effective, realistic and comprehensive manner in accordance with the principle of fair sharing of debt burdens,” the Chinese premier added.

During the session, Zambia reached an agreement to restructure $6.3 billion in debt it owes to other governments, including that of China, its biggest official creditor.