New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said on Monday that the world leaders might reach a "high level agreement" at the Copenhagen climate-change conference.

Key said at his post-cabinet press conference that there was "some political momentum building, which is "positive."

But there will be no binding agreement concluded in December, he said, adding that much better work required to be done in 2010.

The United Nations climate-change conference began on Monday, with the leaders' meeting due on December 17-18.

Key, who initially decided not to attend the meeting, will head to Copenhagen on December 15.

(Xinhua News Agency December 7, 2009)