Chinese vice premier meets French climate change envoy

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-11-26 21:46

BEIJING: Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang met here Thursday with French Environment Minister Jean Louis Borloo, who is visiting China as French President's special envoy on climate change ahead of the forthcoming climate talks in Copenhagen, Denmark.

On Thursday, China's State Council said that China is going to reduce the intensity of carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP in 2020 by 40 to 45 percent compared with the level of 2005.

The index will a binding goal to be incorporated into China's mid- and long-term national social and economic development plans.

"This is a voluntary action taken by China aimed to speed up transformation of economic development mode, and is also the contribution to the global effort in tackling climate change," Li told Borloo.

Li also urged the international community to uphold the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Kyoto Protocol, the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities" and the Bali Road Map, and to work together in a bid to make the climate talks achieve positive outcome.

The 15th Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC will open in Copenhagen to renew greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets set by the UNFCCC Kyoto Protocol, the first stage of which expires in 2012.

Li said that China attaches great importance to relations with France and will advance bilateral ties from strategic and long-term perspectives.

The two countries should respect each other's core interests and major concerns, deepen cooperation in various fields to push forward China-France comprehensive strategic partnership in a healthy and stable manner.

In the meeting with Li, Borloo also presented a letter from French President Nicolas Sarkozy to Chinese President Hu Jintao.