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Unreasonable to Rebuke China over Climate Talks

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It is some certain European politicians that are being irresponsible and uncooperative when they unfairly reproach China for so-called irresponsibility and non-cooperation in combating climate change, especially during the Copenhagen climate talks.

Just after the conference ended earlier this month, a handful of European politicians charged China with not voluntarily and actively cutting emissions. They also claimed China adopted unilateralism at the conference and disregarded the interests of other countries.

Among the chorus, British Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband Monday alleged the Copenhagen conference was "hijacked" by China and several other developing countries, displayed "a farcical picture to the public," and fell flat.

Swedish Environment Minister Andreas Carlgren claimed Tuesday that the Copenhagen talks failed to make breakthrough due to inertia of a few countries "especially the United States and China."

As a matter of fact, China, in sharp contrast with the claims, has exerted great effort to push forward the Copenhagen negotiations with an eye to reaching a widely accepted accord.

Premier Wen Jiabao flew to Copenhagen and delivered a key speech at the talks to detail China's achievements and future plans for fighting climate change. Wen's speech showed China's sincerity and determination to move forward the talks on climate change.

China, in the spirit of mutual respect and pragmatic cooperation, maintained close contact and coordination with all parties to help reach the hard-won Copenhagen Accord.

Over the past years, China has implemented a variety of effective measures, including the promotion of renewable energy, new laws, and reductions in pollution, to cut its emissions.

Between 1990 and 2005, China's carbon dioxide emissions per unit of the GDP fell 46 percent due to its unremitting efforts.

Building on that, China also has set a fresh target of cutting emissions per unit of the GDP by 40 percent to 45 percent by 2020 from 2005 levels. To reduce emissions on such a large scale and over such an extended period of time will require tremendous efforts by China, still a developing country.

The target will be made mandatory and incorporated into China's mid- and long-term plan for national economic and social development to ensure its implementation will be subject to the supervision of the law and public opinion.

Officials from some countries have highly praised China's role at the conference. For example, Nolana Ta Ama, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Togo's ambassador to China, said Sunday that China played a leading role and made positive contributions to the conference.

Distinctly and undeniably, China has acted as a responsible and cooperative player at the Copenhagen talks and in combating climate change.

(Xinhua News Agency December 24, 2009)