FM spokesman: China to act constructively in climate-related issues

China is to play a positive and constructive role in resolving climate-related issues, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said in Beijing Thursday.

Qin made the remarks at a press conference in response to a question at the ongoing UN Climate Change Conference, which has gathered all the parties in the Kyoto Protocol. About 8,000 delegates from 189 countries were present at the conference in Montreal between Nov. 28 and Dec. 9.

China has sent a delegation of officials from the Foreign Ministry, State Development and Reform Commission and Ministry of Science and Technology.

The ten-day conference is believed to speed up the implementation of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) and the Kyoto Protocol, which came into effect in February this year.

The protocol attempts to lower the Earth's temperature by setting limits on the emission of greenhouse gases for the 37 signatory countries.

Delegates will also hold discussions on the reform of the Clean Development Mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol, which says that developed nations may cooperate with developing ones in reducing greenhouse gas discharge through providing money and technology.

The next five-year plan to cope with global climate changes will also be on the conference's agenda, since the first phase of the 1997 landmark treaty ends in 2012, when a new round of negotiation is expected to begin, Qin said.

The Chinese government supports the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol and insists on the basic principles of the UNFCC, Qin said.

In accordance with the spirit of "the common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities" articulated in a UNFCC document, Qin noted that the Chinese government is working on methods to adapt itself to climate changes.

Qin emphasized that the Chinese government favors a sustainable development mode and values harmonious development between humanity and nature.

"Our country's focus is on economic growth as well as environmental and climate protection," Qin said.

Source: Xinhua