China expects Durban conference to firm up countries' climate-change targets

China on Wednesday expressed its hope that the upcoming Durban climate-change conference could apply the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities." Speaking at a press conference, Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said the conference should work on the basis that, while the world is united in its bid to control climate change, the goals set for individual countries should vary according to their level of development. He added that the conference should adhere to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol. The spokesman called on the conference to precisely quantify the emission reductions expected of developed countries in the second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol. China maintains that the Durban conference should define the emission reduction commitments set under the UNFCCC for developed countries that are not covered by the Kyoto Protocol, and that they should be comparable to the commitments set for developed countries that are covered in the Protocol, Liu said. He asked that it be specified how countries are expected to fund and set up their efforts at reducing emissions, and that the means for measuring developed countries' and developing countries' achievements in reducing emissions are transparent and the results verifiable. Liu said he hoped developing countries could make commitments on independent emission reduction when receiving technical and financial support. The spokesman finally said China expects all countries to seriously implement the commitments before 2020, and to come up with further emission-reducing measures after 2015. China on Tuesday issued a white paper titled "China's Policies and Actions for Addressing Climate Change," stating the country's basic positions in participating in the upcoming Durban climate change conference. The conference is scheduled to be held in the South African city of Durban in late November, bringing together delegates from nearly 200 governments to negotiate further actions to address climate change.