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China seeks to clear up summit deal

By Fu Jing (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-12-21 07:37

China lauded the Copenhagen Accord, hailing it an agreement based on arduous negotiation and the "sufficient, transparent and smooth" communication with other countries.

In the aftermath to the United Nations climate change conference, which ended on Saturday and has drawn criticism for not doing enough to fight global warming, China's Foreign Ministry has called the outcome a "new beginning" to cooperation between rich and poor countries.

Foreign minister Yang Jiechi said the summit in Copenhagen had produced "positive results". Chinese officials also defended the negotiations process, ruling out rumors that it was not transparent.

China seeks to clear up summit deal

Some media said that there was only private consultation between the United States and Brazil, South Africa, India and China in the final days of the summit, and island states and smaller developed countries were excluded from talks.

"Such comments do not conform with facts and are irresponsible and driven by ulterior motives," ministry spokesman Qin Gang said in a press release yesterday.

Qin points out that in the Danish capital, premier Wen Jiabao held long meetings with leaders from island states and least developed countries, listening to their opinions and supporting their requirements to an agreement.

In the nonbinding accord, China agreed to air its efforts to limit greenhouse gas emissions every two years and list its commitments before Jan 31, 2010.

The agreement also includes the aim of limiting the global temperature increase to 2C, and pledges to deliver $30 billion in aid to developing nations over the next three years. By 2020, poor countries could receive up to $100 billion.

It also lists a method for verifying emissions reductions by industrialized nations.

Officials praised premier Wen's swift diplomacy last Thursday and Friday in Copenhagen after he held talks with scores of leaders and UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon.

"Premier Wen Jiabao brought hope and confidence to the world in its fight against climate change," Yang said. "The conference yielded significant and positive fruits in three aspects."

First, it upheld the "common but differentiated responsibilities" principle set by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol, Yang said.

Secondly, he said the summit was a step forward in holding developed countries to their targets of emissions cuts and developing countries to their voluntary mitigation efforts.

Lastly, Yang said consensus was made on long-term targets for global emissions reductions, funding, technology support to developing countries, and transparency.

At least one expert said he is not convinced by promises from developed countries.

"I hope the promises to the developing countries are delivered fully," said He Jiankun, vice-president of National Expert Panel of Combating Climate Change, to China Daily.

"Rich countries should do that in an urgent manner and only this can demonstrate the developed countries are doing, not just talking."

Wen urged that the international community make effective institutional arrangements under the Convention to have developed countries honor commitments of providing financial support and the transfer of climate-friendly technologies to developing countries.