Wen's attendance adds momentum to Copenhagen talks
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Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's attendance at the Copenhagen conference will inject a new momentum into international climate change talks, Deputy Foreign Minister Wang Guangya said Thursday.
"Wen's trip to Copenhagen will inject a new momentum into the climate change talks and exert positive and important impacts for future international cooperation," Wang told a press conference on Thursday.
The UN Climate Change Conference, which opened Monday in Copenhagen, gathered representatives from 192 countries and aimed at mapping out a plan to combat climate change for a period from 2012 to 2020.
At the invitation of Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, Wen will attend the talks that will run through Dec. 18.
Wang gave no schedule for Wen's trip to the Danish capital, but said premier would deliver an important speech, outlining the country's efforts to deal with climate change and to promote international cooperation.
Wen is also scheduled to meet with foreign leaders on the sidelines of the talks, Wang said, without specifying those leaders.
"Wen's attendance spells out the Chinese government's attention and positive stance on climate change and signals the country's determination, confidence and political willingness to combat global climate change," Wang said.
Wang highlighted measures the Chinese government had taken to tackle climate change, including the country's latest pledge to cut carbon dioxide emissions per unit of gross domestic product by 40 to 45 percent by 2020 compared with levels in 2005.
China announced last month it would develop renewable and nuclear energies to increase the proportion of non-fossil-fuel power in China's total primary energy consumption to around 15 percent by 2020 from 9 percent by 2008.
The government also set a target of increasing its forest area by 40 million hectares by 2020 from the 2005 level.
"All these ambitious goals have demonstrated China's actions to make the Copenhagen climate change talks a success," Wang said.
The aim of the Copenhagen conference was to seek positive outcomes from the comprehensive, effective and sustained implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1992 and the Kyoto Protocol in 1997, he said.
"The key is to make specific arrangements on mitigation, adaptation, technology transfer and financial support," Wang said.
Wang urged all countries to adhere to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol, the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities" and the Bali Roadmap which was signed in 2007.
Wang listed China's expectations for the Copenhagen conference in three areas.
First, developed nations should commit to their targets of substantial emissions cuts for the second commitment period from 2012 to 2020.
Second, the conference should set up an effective mechanism that will ensure developed nations honor their commitments of providing finance, technology and capacity building to developing countries.
Third, developing nations, while getting finance, technology and capacity building support from developed nations, should take appropriate adaptation and mitigation measures.
"By doing so, the conference can make just, fair and reasonable arrangements for the future international cooperation on climate change and put in place a mechanism guarantee for the humanity to deal with climate change," Wang said.
