China fully supports Copenhagen Accord, FM spokesman says
China said on Thursday that it fully supports the Copenhagen Accord, and its stance of supporting the Accord is clear and consistent.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang made the remarks at a regular news briefing here.
China attached great importance to the Copenhagen climate change conference and made its best efforts to push for positive results from the conference, especially the Copenhagen Accord.
"China's stance of supporting the Accord is clear and consistent," Qin said.
On Jan. 29, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao reiterated his country's support for the Copenhagen Accord and China's commitments to addressing climate change in separate letters to Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
China wrote letters to the Secretariat of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on Jan. 28 and March 9 respectively to submit its gas emissions cut target and confirm adding China to the list of countries supporting the accord, said Qin.
Qin dismissed some reports that China's avoidance of the word "associate" could be seen as deliberate and possibly a step to distance the country from full endorsement.
"Such comments are groundless," said Qin. "It is wrong to misinterpret a slightly different wording as a different position."
According to Qin, the countries which signed up to the climate accord have used different words to show their backing, such as "support," "stand by" and "associate with."
More than 100 countries had earlier agreed to be "associated" with the accord in reply to a query by Denmark, reports said.
"China supports the Copenhagen Accord, and will try our best to deal with climate change and actively participate in the international cooperation. Our will and determination is firm and clear," Qin said.
China said it would endeavor to lower its carbon dioxide emissions per unit of gross domestic product (GDP) by 40 to 45 percent by 2020 compared with 2005 levels.
