04/04/2016 (Agence Europe) - China and US sign Paris Agreement on 22 April. Two major actors (China and the US) will sign the Paris Agreement on 22 April in New York. They will also begin national ratification procedures as early as possible this year, to the great delight of the EU. This news was announced in a joint statement on 31 March. The joint presidential statement emphasises that the US and China are "encouraging the other parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to do likewise, so that the Paris Agreement can enter into force as soon as possible". On 18 March last, EU heads of state and government were delighted by the prospect of the Paris Agreement being signed on 22 April and also announced that their determination to ensure that its member states are able to ratify it "at their earliest convenience and in time to be party to it when it enters into force". (AN)