Obama calls Xi to praise China's role in climate talks - White House

U.S. President Barack Obama delivers a statement on the climate agreement at the White House in Washington, December 12, 2015. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama spoke by telephone Sunday night with Chinese President Xi Jinping to express appreciation for the important role China played in securing a historic climate agreement in Paris, the White House said. The leaders recognized that close coordination of their negotiating teams helped secure Saturday's agreement, it said in a statement released on Monday. "The president emphasized the importance of continuing close U.S.-China cooperation on climate change issues into the future," the White House said. (Reporting by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Susan Heavey)