Xi Reaffirms China's Climate Ambition, Urges Concrete Actions

Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed on Sunday China"s utmost efforts to fight climate change, calling on developed countries to live up to their pledges.

Developed countries should honor their commitment to a goal of mobilizing jointly 100 billion U.S. dollars a year by 2020 to address the needs of developing countries, Xi told a working luncheon on climate change at the UN headquarters.

Xi called on developed countries to transfer environment-friendly technologies to their developing counterparts and live up to their other pledges in terms of fund and technology.

Meanwhile, Xi urged countries present at a UN climate conference scheduled in Paris at the year end, to balance among such factors as mitigation, adaptation, fund and technology to reach a tangible and effective agreement.

The agreement should reflect the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities in light of different national circumstances, Xi said.

He urged all countries to implement the agreement in a down-to-earth manner and put forward intended nationally determined contributions based on their respective national circumstances.

China, Xi said, has been exploring the path of low-carbon development that suits its national conditions, and the Chinese government has included the fight against climate change into its overall strategy for socioeconomic development.

Xi pledged that his country will strive to lower carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by 40 to 45 percent from the 2005 level by 2020.

He also pledged to put into operation the China South-South Climate Cooperation Fund, aimed to help other developing countries combat climate change, as early as possible.

China pledged the 20-billion-yuan (3-billion-dollars) fund in a China-U.S. joint presidential statement on climate change signed Friday during Xi"s first state visit to the United States.

China stands ready to work with other countries to combat climate change, while implementing the development agenda, Xi said.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who hosted the luncheon gathering leaders from over 30 countries, said he hopes this event could be a political driving force and accelerate negotiations on the Paris agreement.