China urges developed nations taking responsibility in climate change

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-11-07 11:02

BEIJING -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has urged developed nations to take responsibility and obligations in addressing climate change, including changing their unsustainable way of life.

He made the remarks in a high-level conference on climate change that opened here Friday. Representatives of governments, international and non-governmental organizations from nearly 100 countries are taking part in the conference that focuses on technology development and transfer.

Premier Wen also urged developed nations to help developing countries to cope with the global climate change.

He said the Chinese government has always taken a responsible attitude towards and "laid great importance" to climate change.

The event scheduled to run through Saturday is jointly organized by the Chinese government and the United Nations, in a move to facilitate international cooperation on technology development and transfer as well as the international negotiation process on climate change.

The conference will cover a wide array of topics including the current status of technology transfer and best practices, mechanism for overcoming barriers to technology transfer, roles and potential collaboration of public and private sectors, among others.

Chinese government has set a target of reducing energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product (GDP) by 20 percent and major pollutant emissions by 10 percent from the 2005 levels by 2010 to protect environment, save energy and ensure a sustainable development.

Wen said at the conference that China "has confidence to fulfill this goal".