UN Climate Change Conference Opens in Mexico

The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP-16) opened in Cancun, a resort city of Mexico on Monday. The talks, from Nov. 29 to Dec.10, are held to continue to search solutions to the climate problem.

About 25,000 participants from governments, businesses, non-governmental organizations and research institutions from 194 countries gathered in Cancun.

Mexican President Felip Caldereon said at the opening ceremony that the Cancun conference shows the responsibility of the human beings to fight against global warming,

"The disasters caused by the climate change are threatening the survival of the human beings. Each topic at the conference has a close link with everyone," he said.

The parties will try to reach a legally binding treaty to replace the Kyoto Protocol at Cancun Conference, although the chance is slim. They will also pay attention to the issues including green technology transfer and additional financial support to developing countries.

A nearly 70-strong delegation of the Chinese government, headed by Xie Zhenhua, deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission, has arrived in Cancun.

In an interview with Xinhua, Su wei, head of the climate change department of the National Development and Reform Commission, said China takes a positive attitude over Cancun conference.

"Cancun is an important station in the international progress of facing climate changes. We continue to stick to UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, Kyoto Protocol and 'Bali Road Map'. We hope Cancun conference can reach positive progress in all the areas with the political agreements made at Copenhagen summit. " he said.

According to Su, four key issues are concerned by the parties including mitigation, adaptation, finance and technology, which have always been the hot-spot topics in past climate negotiations.

The Cancun conference is another important step for the international community to advance the "Bali Road Map" negotiations after the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen last year, which failed to reach a legally binding treaty for the years beyond 2012.

(Source: Xinhua)