Wealthy states asked to take lead on climate

The government yesterday urged developed countries to take the lead in reducing greenhouse gas emissions to deal with the challenge of climate change.

"We believe developed countries have the capacity and responsibility to play a bigger role in dealing with climate change and should take the lead on the reduction of gas emissions," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said at a regular news briefing yesterday.

In a meeting with Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe meeting of foreign ministers in Germany on Monday, EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner stressed the need for China to do more to combat climate change.