Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said on Tuesday that developed countries must take the lead in cutting emission of greenhouse gases.

"The key issue of the current international negotiations on climate change is that developed countries must continue to take the lead in cutting emission of greenhouse gases and take concrete measures in this regard, as required by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol," said Jiang.

She made the remarks at a regular press conference when asked to comment on a recent report on global warming issued by UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

The UN report, compiled by 1,200 world-renowned scientists, says more droughts, heat waves, rains and a slow gain in sea levels could last for more than 1,000 years.

The "very likely" involvement of humans, resulting from the burning of fossil fuels, is about a 90 percent certainty, says the report.

"It should be noted that the climate change is resulted from the long-time emissions by developed countries in history and local high per capita emissions, and developed countries have the responsibilities that can not be shirked for it," said Jiang.

She said developing countries have very low emissions and thus very small room for emission cuts.

"China is willing, in accordance with its strategy of sustainable development, to make contribution within its capacity to dealing with climate change," said Jiang.

She said the Chinese government attaches great importance to environmental protection and has made it a fundamental national policy, adding in recent years China has taken a series of effective measures in protecting environment and made notable achievements.

The measures included adjusting the structures of industries and energy, planting more trees, controlling growth of population, making laws on environmental protection, and popularizing knowledge of environmental protection.

In its 11th five-year plan issued in last March, China set the goals of making distinct achievements in controlling emissions of greenhouse gases and realizing a 20 percent reduction in energy consumption per 10,000 yuan (some 1,300 U.S. dollars) of GDP in the five-year period.

A recent step by the country for its emissions goal was that on January 29, Chinese Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan announced that China will close and suspend small power generating units with total annual capacity of 50 million kilowatts over the next four years.

Small power generating units around the country consume 400 million tons of coal while emitting 5.4 million tons of sulfur dioxide and producing 115 million kilowatts a year.

"These goals are very challenging, but China is willing to strengthen cooperation with the international community to realize them, in a bid to make new contribution to the international climate change," said Jiang.

She said China holds that the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol are effective legal documents for international efforts in dealing with climate change and the world should deepen cooperation under this framework and promote the implementation of the convention and protocol.

In responding to another question on whether China will support the creation of a new UN environmental body against global warming suggested by French President Jacques Chirac, Jiang said China supports international cooperation on environmental protection and related multi-mechanism in this regard.

"China holds that the international community should study on related suggestions, to form a plan that is acceptable to all sides," said Jiang.

Source: Xinhua