The United States does not anticipate reaching a climate change agreement with China during President Obama's upcoming visit to Beijing, according to Todd Stern, the US Special Envoy for Climate Change. Stern expressed that the goal of the visit is to establish common understanding between Obama and President Hu in order to facilitate a potential agreement at the Copenhagen negotiations in December. The United States has been hesitant to commit to a deal that does not require developing countries like China to agree to mandatory CO2 reduction targets as the Kyoto Protocol approaches its expiration in 2012. Chinese negotiators have also expressed the view that the industrialized nations should take on the majority of the responsibility for reducing carbon emissions. The upcoming meeting between President Obama and President Hu Jintao is considered a crucial step in reaching a consensus on a new global climate agreement. Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell has suggested that China and the US may sign a bilateral agreement during Obama's visit to China, although Washington has stated they are not seeking a separate deal. Despite plans to discuss further cooperation on issues such as carbon capture and storage next month, analysts believe that differences between the two nations will make it challenging to reach a substantive agreement. Paul Harris, a professor of global and environmental studies at the Hong Kong Institute of Education, expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of the upcoming talks in Copenhagen, suggesting that many kind words and discussions may not lead to significant results. With the conference approaching, Stern emphasized that success is not guaranteed but still possible if a deal can be reached. The Obama administration's efforts to pass a climate plan before the end of the year are seen as crucial, with the US Senate Environment Committee currently holding hearings on a new climate bill. The administration has been encouraging Congress to make progress, and any additional postponements could harm the United States' reputation during the Copenhagen talks.