Developed countries should continue to take the lead in reducing greenhouse gas emissions after 2012 when the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol expires, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said Monday.

Speaking at the thematic plenary on adaptation of the UN High Level Event on Climate Change, Yang said that the principle of " common but differentiated responsibilities" should be adhered to in global efforts to address the challenges of climate change.

Developed countries should meet their emission reduction targets set in the Kyoto Protocol, help developing countries build capacity in tackling climate change and continue to take the lead in reducing emissions after 2012, he said.

Developing countries should also take proactive measures and control the growth of greenhouse gas emissions to the best of their ability and in keeping with their particular conditions, he noted.

The top Chinese diplomat stressed that the basic framework established under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) must be upheld and the convention, which has played a leading role in global cooperation in climate change, should continue to serve as the framework for future cooperation.

Mitigation, adaptation, financing and technology, being all important means in addressing climate change, should receive equal attention, Yang said.

It is necessary to increase financial assistance and technology transfer to developing countries. But in doing so, one should not put undue emphasis on the role of the market mechanism, he added.

(Xinhua News Agency September 25, 2007)