Mr. Chairman,

I am pleased to have the opportunity to attend this Conference and exchange views with you on climate change. I wish to thank Germany for its thoughtful preparations and arrangements for the conference. Climate change concerns the development of all countries, the survival of humanity and the future of our planet. It constitutes a challenge facing the whole world today. To properly address this challenge requires strengthened cooperation among all countries. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol have laid a sound foundation for such cooperation. They should be implemented in real earnest.

Mr. Chairman,

Concerning the post-2012 international arrangements for addressing climate change, I believe that first, developed countries, whose historical emissions and current high per capita emissions have contributed to today's climate change, should continue to take the lead in cutting their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions after 2012 in accordance with the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities" established in the UNFCCC. The scale of their emissions reduction should match what was recommended in the 4th Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Second, since negotiations on post-2012 arrangements for emissions reduction were opened as early as 2005 at the Conference of Parties to the UNFCCC in Montreal, developed countries should demonstrate political will and bring the negotiations to an early conclusion. This will show to the international community their commitment to address climate change and boost the confidence of businesses in investing in low-carbon economy. Third, it is imperative to enhance UNFCCC-related dialogue and intensify efforts on its implementation. In particular, developed countries should increase technology transfer and assistance to developing countries to effectively enhance the capacity of developing countries in coping with climate change.

Mr. Chairman,

At this stage, it is crucial for us to recall and reaffirm the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities". We stress that the developed countries should take the lead in reducing GHG emissions, because, first, they have a history of GHG emissions and second, they have the capacity and resources to tackle climate change. As for developing countries, both their historical and current per capita emissions are low. They are far from completing industrialization or even getting rid of poverty. They don't have the capital and technology to cope with climate change. It is neither fair nor realistic to ask them to reduce emissions at such a stage. It was based on these considerations that the Convention stipulated that GHG emissions of developing countries may grow at appropriate levels as they endeavor to achieve development and reduce poverty. This is the essence of the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities". However, this does not imply that developing countries should do nothing at all. They should, on the contrary, take actions, and some actions are also quantifiable, such as increasing energy efficiency and forest cover. But their actions should be consistent with their status as developing countries and their levels of development. In the final analysis, "common" means all countries shall take actions, while "differentiated" means that developed countries should commit themselves to mandatory emission reduction targets and speedily reduce their current high per capita emissions to a relatively low level while developing countries should control the growth rate of GHG emissions by adopting domestic policy measures in light of their need for sustainable development.

China has acted fully on this principle. Over the years, China has effectively controlled its GHG emissions through a host of measures, including adjusting and improving economic structure and energy mix, increasing energy efficiency, enhancing energy conservation and promoting afforestation. According to available data, from 1990 to 2005, the total energy saved through increasing energy efficiency alone amounted to 800 million tons of standard coal, equivalent to 1.8 billion tons of CO2 emission reduction. To ensure further progress in this respect, the Chinese Government has set the targets of reducing energy intensity by 20% and discharge of major pollutants by 10%, and increasing forest cover from 18.2% to 20% between 2005 and 2010. The achievement of these targets will be a major contribution to tackling climate change.

Mr. Chairman,

Climate change is a global issue of common concern. All countries should step up cooperation to address the issue. In particular, developed countries should accelerate technology transfer to developing countries. They should take prompt actions to establish the mechanism and fund for technology transfer and cooperation with a view to making new and win-win progress in the global endeavor to tackle climate change. China is committed to working with other countries to build a future of harmonious, clean and sustainable development.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.