A senior Chinese official called on the international community to build a mechanism on technology development and transfer to address climate change problems in Beijing on Thursday.

Xie Zhenhua, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) deputy head, said "the core of the mechanism is technology transfer, including sufficient funds to support the transfer".

Xie was speaking at a two-day Forum on Climate Change and Science and Technology Innovation that opened in Beijing on Thursday when sharing the Chinese government's ideas and proposals on how to promote international technology transfers on climate change issue.

"The transfer and application of existing technologies is a necessary precondition for developing countries to get on the road of low carbon emissions," he said.

"The development and breakthroughs of new technologies are crucial to the ultimate solution of the climate change issue," he said.

Under the Kyoto Protocol and the United Nations Framework Convention On Climate Change, developed countries are obliged to transfer technology to developing countries under favorable terms.

However, the signatories have not made any substantial progress on how to enforce the agreement, despite 15 years of heated debate.

Xie made several suggestions on how to make breakthroughs.

A special body, such as a commission for technology development and transfers, should be established, he said. Special funds for technology development and transfers should be set up, with regular evaluations of the process.

"Developed countries should promise further measures involving funds, taxation, laws and other aspects to help the mechanism play its role," he said.

Xie said China had always maintained the international community should make concerted efforts and earnestly cooperate to meet challenges brought about by climate change.

"The Chinese government deems that the following five principles should be unswervingly adhered to by the international community to address climate change.

"First, we must face climate change under the framework of sustainable development. To address climate change, we must conform to the policies and measures of sustainable development.

"Second, we must adhere to the principle of 'common but different responsibility', so that all countries, developed and developing, can carry out their different responsibilities and obligations in a full and fair way according to their different national conditions.

"Third, we must adhere to the principle of paying equal attention to the reduction of emissions and adaptation to climate changes. For while reducing emissions, developing countries face more difficulties than developed countries to adapt to climate change.

"Fourth, the UN convention and Kyoto Protocol must be the chief channel and effective framework on the handling of climate change.

"Fifth, technology innovation and transfer must be comprehensive. Since developing countries lack technology development and adoption for climate change, developed countries, for the benefit of all mankind, should take tangible measures to remove barriers to technology transfer."

Science and Technology Minister Wan Gang said China has allocated 7 billion yuan (US$1.01 billion) to save energy, reduce emissions and address climate change during the 11th five-year program (2006-2010).

"This fund has helped the country to greatly increase its ability to save energy and reduce emission and enhanced its scientific research on climate change," Wan said.

China has signed 103 scientific cooperation agreements with 97 countries and climate change is the top priority of bilateral cooperation between China and other countries, Wan said.

All About Climate change, Emission reduction

(Xinhua News Agency April 24, 2008)