Premier Wen Jiabao left Beijing on Wednesday for a trip to the climate conference in Copenhagen, where hopes are tied for a possible new chapter concerning the future of mankind.

In this capital city of fairy tales, the Chinese premier was expected to join more than 100 heads of state or government at the ongoing climate summit.

Wen will expound on China's policies, action plans and proposals on climate change during the meeting.

"As a big country, China will do its share, so we've taken a constructive and positive approach in the Copenhagen talks and elsewhere," Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei said in a recent interview.

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has defined "common but differentiated responsibilities" on the world's nations in combating climate change.

The 1997 Kyoto Protocol also set greenhouse gas emission cut targets for industrialized nations, while both the convention and its Kyoto Protocol did not impose any emission obligations on developing countries.

Nevertheless, some developing nations, including China, have offered pledges within their capacity out of a sense of responsibility in a bid to push for a positive result at the pivotal gathering.

China announced last month that it would reduce the intensity of carbon emissions per unit of its GDP in 2020 by 40 to 45 percent from 2005 levels. The move was hailed by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as "quite important measures."

Wen has also talked with the leaders of seven countries including India, South Africa, Britain and Germany, on the issue.

In spite of all the efforts, it has been proved by history that the developed world's readiness to shoulder its duties and actively engage in global cooperation has been decisive in winning the battle for a cleaner and more sustainable human future.

Ten days into the climate talks, progress has been seen but the gathering remains miles away from a legally binding climate treaty "as early as possible in 2010."

Understandably, the discussion at Copenhagen will have a direct bearing on the participants'national interests and determine the pace of their countries' social and economic development.

Divisions between developed and developing nations over greenhouse gas emission reduction targets and financing already have been eroding chances of a final deal.

A strong political will of the industrial countries to squarely face up to the climate change, for which they played an inescapable role in their process of industrialization, will determine the fate of our sole and unique earth.

In the final phase of the negotiations, world leaders from developed and developing countries will clarify their positions on how to avoid the worst consequences of global warming.

It is hoped that the rich nations would bear their high per capita emissions in mind and make a pledge comparable to their national strength and the debt they owe the world.

(Xinhua News Agency December 16, 2009)