China's chief climate negotiator at the UN climate talks on Wednesday called on all negotiators to "stay calm" as the conference entered its "crucial stage."

Moreover, each party should respect each other's opinions and adhere to the principles of the talks, said Su Wei, deputy head of the Chinese delegation to the UN Climate Change Summit, at a press conference.

"We still believe that the Copenhagen Conference will achieve a good result," Su said.

Earlier in the day, the conference came to a standstill as China and a number of other developing nations protested against an attempt by the Danish presidency of the Copenhagen climate talks to put forward draft outcome texts without consulting other parties.

Two draft texts were proposed on December 11 by the chairs of two major working groups of the conference -- one has the task of amending the Kyoto Protocol and another is working out a long-term cooperative action.

It has been agreed that the only legitimate basis for discussion on the outcome of the Copenhagen talks will be the outcome of the work done by the two groups, Su said.

China wants a text with extensive participation from all contracting parties, he added.

"We understand the Danish government's eagerness for positive results out of the conference, and we are wracking our brains to push for an agreement," said the top negotiator.

"This is a party-driven process. You can't just put forward some texts from the sky," he cautioned.

Citing an old Chinese proverb, "More haste, less speed," Su called on all parties to keep calm as the conference entered its "crucial stage."

Many countries are demanding a legally-binding climate treaty to be reached in Copenhagen, but schisms between developed and developing nations, mainly over emissions reduction and financing, are eroding chances of such a deal.

World leaders are arriving in Copenhagen to endorse efforts to reach a deal.

(Xinhua News Agency December 18, 2009)