Chinese Premier:China Committed to Achieve its Voluntary Emission Reduction Target

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao says China has made unremitting efforts and a positive contribution to the global fight against climate change.

Wen Jiabao made the remarks on Friday when addressing the UN climate change summit in Copenhagen.

Yao Yongmei has the details.

Speaking to a gathering of world leaders, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said China regards fighting climate change as an important and strategic task.

"At this very moment, billions of people across the world are following what is happening here in Copenhagen closely. The will that we express and the commitments that we make here should help push forward mankind's historical process of combating climate change. Standing at this podium, I am deeply aware of the heavy responsibility. China takes climate change very seriously. We have made and will continue to make unremitting efforts to tackle this challenge."

The premier revealed that China reduced its carbon emissions per unit of GDP, by 46 percent between 1990 and 2005.

Moreover, Wen Jiabao said the country's energy consumption per unit of GDP dropped by 13 percent from the 2005 level at the end of the first half of this year. He said this energy conservation effort is equivalent to reducing 800 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

With these previous achievements, premier Wen Jiabao reiterated that China will voluntarily cut its carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by 40 to 45 percent by 2020 from the 2005 level.

"Whatever outcome this conference may produce, we will resolutely work hard to achieve and even exceed the target. We will honor our word with real action."

The Chinese premier also urged world leaders to build consensus and make vigorous efforts to reach a deal during the remaining hours of the Copenhagen climate conference.

Yao Yongmei, CRI news.