United Nations climate change conference in Mexico has concluded after tense talks for two weeks, with agreements adopted to tackle global climate changes and push ahead the UN-sponsored process, which won the applause of the international communities.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday hailed the outcomes of the conference as an "important success for a world much in need of it."

In a statement issued by his spokesman late on Saturday following the conclusion of the two-week UN climate change conference in Cancun, Mexico, Ban said: "governments came together in common cause, for the common good, and agreed on a way forward to meet the defining challenge of our time."

"The outcomes in Cancun have given us important tools," he said in the statement. "Now we must use them, and strengthen our efforts in line with the scientific imperatives for action."

On the outcomes of the conference, the Chinese delegation said "that, first of all, it adheres to the (UN) Convention, the Kyoto Protocol and the Bali Roadmap, as well as the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, which ensures that next year's negotiation will continue along the two tracks decided by the Bali Roadmap."

"Second, progress has been made at different levels in the areas where developing countries have concerns, such as adaptation, technology transfer, finance and capacity building, and the negotiation process will move on, which sends positive signals to the international community," the delegation said in a press release.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and Climate Action Commissioner Connie Hedegaard Saturday issued statements in Brussels, congratulating on the success of the conference.

"The Cancun Agreement on climate change struck today represents an important step towards a comprehensive and legally binding framework for global climate action," said Barroso.

Barroso also said that the Cancun Agreement shows that the multilateral process can deliver.

The Carbon Markets and Investors Association said on Saturday that it welcomed the progress in the fields like "the green climate fund" at the Cancun conference.

The London-based association hoped the way involving the funds from the private sector to tackle climate changes could be clarified further in the future.

Some experts from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) said that the outcomes of the Cancun conference showed that the international communities are capable to make crucial steps together to cope with climate changes.

Jeremy Hobbs, executive director of Oxfam International, said that the top achievement of the Cancun conference was that it breathed life into UN climate talks and negotiators can continue to push ahead climate talks within the UN framework again.

The 16th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held in Cancun finally reached a deal to fight global warming after an all-night session until early Saturday.

The conference reached agreements, dubbed the "Cancun Agreements," on a package of measures to build a low-carbon, climate-resilient future together.

Delegates attending the conference also agreed to ensure no gap between the first and second commitment periods of the Kyoto Protocol, an addition to the Convention that contains legally binding measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and whose first commitment period is due to expire in 2012.

An agreement was also reached on establishing a fund for long-term climate financing to support developing countries, and bolstering technological cooperation and enhancing vulnerable populations' ability to adapt to the changing climate.

(Xinhua News Agency December 13, 2010)