China on Monday fully elaborate on its stand on climate change, and urged the industrialized nations to take a lead in tackling the "severe challenge around the globe."

 

"To deal with climate change is a systematic and integrated work and requires the international community enhance cooperation and make joint efforts," said State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan.

 

While meeting with a UN special envoy on climate change Han Seung-soo, Tang, a veteran diplomat, set forth comprehensive viewpoints on how to tackle climate change as some nations are pressing the largest developing country to take more responsibility.

 

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had appointed three special envoys on climate change, including South Korean Foreign Minister Han Seung-soo.

 

The special envoys will solicit the views of national leaders, including those who are key actors in the climate change negotiations. First, feasible scenario after national situations and development level after consultation.

 

Tang demanded the developed nations take a lead on greenhouse gas emission reduction and provide assistance for the developing countries in terms of technology transfer and capital, while the developing countries follow the path of sustainable development.

 

"The developed nations have both responsibility and capability to contribute more to climate change," said Tang.

 

"Only When the developed and developing nations join hands can climate change be solved fundamentally," he added.

 

Tang highlighted the principle of ""common but differentiated responsibilities" in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, which he said lays foundation for international cooperation and holding together global partnership.

 

Tang also hoped a feasible scenario on climate change should be instituted by taking into account national situations and development level of each country.

 

As a developing country, China is not obligated to meet targets set by the Kyoto Protocol, under which 38 industrialized countries must reduce their gas emissions by an average of 5.2 percent below 1990 levels, during the period 2008 to 2012.

 

But China has realized it must do its part to slow global warming as the country has become the world's second largest carbon dioxide emitter and is likely to overtake the United States in the near future.

 

The Chinese government has set a goal of reducing energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product by 20 percent by 2010, while pollutant discharge should drop by 10 percent.

 

China has taken a series of measures to deal with climate change, and has achieved notable results in this regard, said Tang.

 

At a teleconference meeting in early May, Premier Wen Jiabao has urged more curbs on industries that consume more energy and release more pollutants in a bid to ensure a healthy and fast economic growth.

 

Wen also said to meet the target is an urgent demand of global climate change and the coal-dependant China should bear the responsibility to reduce pollutant emission.

 

China supports the UN's active role in dealing with climate change, hoping the UN could help promote talks on gas emission reduction mechanism after the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012, said Tang.

 

Han Seung-soo spoke highly of the constructive and active role China has played in climate change, saying the international community should make joint efforts to fight the global problem.

 

(Xinhua News Agency May 22, 2007)