During an interview program on Wednesday evening, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said time is pressing for the world to reach a deal at the Climate Conference.

Sarkozy also said that US President Barak Obama faced difficulties in convincing the American public that deep cuts in their emissions were needed to save the planet.

Still, Sarkozy, who is pressing for a one-third cut in emissions by 2020, called on America to lead the way.

Nicolas Sarkozy, French President, said, "To that, I answer: you in the United States are the leading power in the world. The world's most powerful country must show the way forward and not follow."

(CCTV December 17, 2009)