The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) on Thursday urged the EU to put an end to its plan to tax airlines for their carbon emissions.

China urges EU to halt carbon tax. [File photo]

Commenting after a Moscow meeting held by nations opposing the program, the CAAC said "we hope the EU can recognize the concerns of all sides and make changes as soon as possible to avoid an unfavorable situation."

The EU's act will not only distort competition, constrain the airline industry's development and create a financial burden for travelers, but also undermine trust in the world's concerted efforts against climate change, the administration said in a statement on its website.

Out of the 33 participating countries including China, the United States, Russia and Japan, 29 signed a joint declaration at the end of the meeting opposing the carbon tax scheme.

The declaration specifies a variety of measures intended to be used against the EU Emission Trading Scheme (ETS), including allowing any country to introduce measures in line with national laws to either completely scrap the ETS or postpone it.

The CAAC statement said China will continue its countermeasures and work with other countries to urge the EU to stop acting unilaterally.

China has banned its airlines from complying with the EU scheme, which requires airplanes that land or take off in Europe to acquire permits that keep track of the amount of greenhouse gases emitted during the flight. The scheme went into effect this year, although the first payment will not be due until April 30, 2013.

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