Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao speaks at the leaders' meeting of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, Dec. 18, 2009. [Photo: Xinhua]

Hello and welcome to this edition of CRI Roundup brought to you by China Radio International. I'm Thomas Rippe in Beijing.

In this week's program, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao attends the the UN climate conference in Copenhagen with a goal of elaborating on China's stance and measures to combat climate change.

Stay tuned for more.

Wen Jiabao says his attendance at the meeting aims to show the great importance the Chinese government and people attach to climate change, and to assert their sincerity and determination to work with the international community to meet this global challenge.

Premier Wen urged the UN climate change conference to produce positive outcomes to benefit mankind's future development.

Wen made the remarks in Copenhagen at a meeting with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon.

The premier also praised Ban's efforts in advancing the climate talks.

"Two days ago, when speaking at the opening of the high-level segment of the Copenhagen conference, you urged delegates to seal a deal and achieve positive outcomes. This is also China's expectation of the conference. I think all world leaders here and people across the world are willing to see the realization of this expectation."

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei says Wen has laid out five issues that need to be addressed in order to reach a deal on climate change at the UN-led talks.

He says Wen told some world leaders that negotiators should try to reach a consensus on which documents should serve as a basis for negotiations, emissions targets, monitoring mechanisms, long-term goals, and funding as the talks moved into the final segment.

Meanwhile, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Guangya says China expects the ongoing UN climate change conference in Copenhagen to achieve three key tasks.

"First, the climate conference should decide developed countries' emission reduction targets in the second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol. It should also make sure that comparable emission-cutting pledges can be made by those developed countries, which have not approved the Kyoto Protocol. Moreover, the conference should devise an effective mechanism for developed countries to honor their commitments of financial support and technology transfer to developing countries."

Negotiations at the UN climate change conference in Copenhagen have entered a crucial stage now that chairs of the two major working groups have proposed draft texts.

The head of the Chinese delegation to the conference said the ensuing talks will focus on targets set for emission cuts, and how developed nations will provide support.

Xie Zhenhua, head of the Chinese delegation at the Copenhagen conference, says the draft proposals reflect common but differentiated responsibilities, and will help in reaching a final agreement.

He believes the drafts include the double-track mechanism developing countries are calling for.

"According to the Bali roadmap, it is developed countries whose emissions reduction targets, technology transfers and funding supplies must be 'measurable, reportable and verifiable.' But developing countries are required to adhere to the same standards if they have received technology and funding support. We refuse to accept the standards for mitigation actions that we take on our own."

Xie also says China is willing to let African countries and island nations have priority in receiving funding from developed countries.

"China is willing to give financial support to the most underdeveloped countries, African countries and small island nations through South-South cooperation and bilateral cooperation."

China also says developed countries should be held responsible for the sluggish progress of the Copenhagen climate talks as they "move backward" on issues like technological and financial support for developing countries.

Our reporter Wang Ling has more.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu delivered the message, saying the key to the success of the Copenhagen talks was for rich countries to shoulder their responsibilities.

"We reiterate that developed countries should take responsibilities to offer technological and financial support to developing countries to tackle the issue of climate change. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change has required developed countries to provide funds and technology to developing countries. However, developed countries have failed to honor their commitments, and developing countries were skeptical about their sincerity."

Jiang Yu says China believes all countries should work together to tackle the issue of climate change. Developed countries, especially, should live up to their obligations, demonstrate political sincerity and honor their commitments so as to contribute to the substantial progress of the Copenhagen talks.

And with that, we conclude this edition of CRI Roundup. If you have any comments or suggestions, or would like to listen to any of our programs, you can visit our website at Crienglish.com.

I'm Thomas Rippe in Beijing. Thank you for listening, and stay tuned for more on China Radio International.