Senior officials from China and the United States, the world's two largest economies and greenhouse gases emitters, agreed on Friday to intensify their cooperation on climate change.

"On the basis of existing cooperation between the two countries, we will further explore areas and programs with potential for further cooperation," said Xie Zhenhua, vice-minister of the National Development and Reform Commission, after a meeting with Todd Stern, the US special envoy for climate change.

The meeting came just days before President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart President Barack Obama are due to meet in California.