China Pavilion in COP Launched in Durban

By staff reporter Wang Song

Vice chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission Xie Zhenhua and Christiana Figueres, the Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC cut ribbon for the China pavilion.                       Wang Song

December 4th, the Chinese delegation to the 17th Conference of Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) launched the first China pavilion in COP in Durban, South Africa.

Xie Zhenhua, head of the Chinese delegation, and Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC made opening remarks. Su Wei, deputy head of the Chinese delegation and China's top climate change negotiator, hosted the launching ceremony.

"Chinese government's position is open, positive and constructive in taking part in these negotiations we would like to unit all parties to further facilitate the negotiation process," said Xie Zhenhua, who is the vice chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission.

Xie expected the Durban conference could achieve comprehensive and balanced positive results. As a responsible developing country, China has attached great importance to the issue of climate change and taken a large number of measures, which has gained remarkable achievement.

China's energy intensity in 2010, or energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product (GDP), reduced by 19.1 percent from the level of 2005, equal to saving the energy consumption of 630 million tons of standard coal, and resulting in the emission of 1.5 billion fewer tons of greenhouse gas.

The pavilion will showcase 23 events including forums and exhibitions featuring China's efforts and achievements in addressing the climate change.

"This is an important pavilion because it showcases what China has done what China is doing and what China will do to address climate change in the context of building a sustainable economy," Figueres said.

The UN official said China's move is "encouraging and indeed inspiring" and that China's role in the ongoing Durban negotiations is very crucial.

"China is undoubtedly a key player on this international scene, this stage that is key to find a fair adorable way forward on climate," Figueres told the audience.

"Based on China's five-year plan, China is moving decisively on delivering needed way forward that is put forward in the Cancun agreement," she added.

Figueres said the pavilion illustrates China's sustainability potential and ambition to dealing with global warming.