Secretary of State Hillary Clinton asked China on Monday to work with the United States on climate change, saying the two largest carbon emitters could together ensure the success of UN talks.

Clinton voiced hope that two-day US-China talks would follow up on a deal sealed by more than 190 countries in December in Cancun, Mexico, to establish a global fund that will aid poor countries worst affected by climate change.

"We greatly appreciate the work we have done together and now must build on the Cancun agreement," Clinton told a working session on the first day of the Strategic and Economic Dialogue with China.

"If the United States and China can work together, then we can make a giant step toward fulfilling the agenda and making the next UN climate meeting in Durban, South Africa, a success," she said.

The Durban talks, which open in November, aim to lay out a future framework for cutting greenhouse gas emissions blamed for rising temperatures.

The landmark Kyoto Protocol only required rich nations to cut emissions and the requirements expire at the end of 2012.

The Cancun talks were marked by a positive atmosphere, with most countries hoping to avoid a complete collapse of UN-led climate diplomacy.

A year earlier, a climate summit in Copenhagen ended in disarray. China came under heavy heavy criticism from a number of diplomats who accused the growing power of blocking any deal that hinted of legally binding action.

The United States is the main holdout to the Kyoto Protocol. President Barack Obama has vowed to reduce US emissions but faces opposition from the rival Republican Party, some of whose lawmakers deny climate change.