Wen: China's emissions cut promise serious

China's promise on its carbon dioxide emissions cut target was "a serious and solemn one," said Premier Wen Jiabao in Beijing Friday.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (2nd, R) meets with representatives from India, South Africa, Brazil and the G77 group of developing nations, who are in Beijing for consultations with China on climate change issues on Nov. 27, 2009. [Xinhua]

Wen made the remarks in a meeting with representatives from India, South Africa, Brazil and the G77 group of developing nations, who were here for consultations with China on climate change issues.

The State Council, or the Chinese cabinet, announced Thursday that China was 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.

Wen told the foreign representatives that the Chinese government set down the task plan "based on our own national conditions and long-term interests," and "in the spirit of being responsible for the welfare of all the people in the world."

China's target was made after full scientific research and conformed to reality, the premier noted.

"We need to devote great efforts to reach the target," he said.

Wen called for global cooperation in addressing climate change issues, saying that the developing nations enjoyed common interests in this sector.

China valued the mechanism of consultation with India, Brazil and South Africa, and would increase coordination with the G77 group, he said.

"We will work with all parties concerned to help bring about reasonable and realizable outcome of the upcoming UN climate change conference in Copenhagen," said Wen, who is scheduled to attend the conference next month.

The foreign representatives applauded China's efforts and achievements in tackling climate change issues.

They agreed that developing nations should work together to safeguard common interests and make contribution to coping with this challenge and achieve sustainable development.

Indian Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh, Brazilian Presidential Advisor Marcel Fortuna Biato, and South African Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs Buyelwa Sonjica were here for the ministerial consultations on climate change on Nov. 28.

The Chinese representative to the consultations will be Xie Zhenhua, vice minister in charge of the National Development and Reform Commission.

Sudan's Lumumba Stanislaus Di-Aping, a representative of the G77, had concluded his consultations with Xie earlier Friday.