Hu vows deep cut of carbon intensity by 2020

New York City: President Hu Jintao Tuesday told a huge gathering of world leaders that China will spare no effort in ensuring a deal is reached at the UN climate change meeting in Copenhagen.

Hu said China will fight for a "significant cut" in carbon emissions while urging developed countries to help other developing nations.

He made the commitment during a one-day summit on climate change in New York. The session was attended by more than 100 heads of state and government leaders, the largest gathering of world leaders seeking to address climate change.

The meeting was aimed at mobilizing political will to "accelerate the pace of negotiations and help strengthen the ambition of what is on offer," according to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

While urging rich countries to transfer financial resources and technology to poorer nations, Hu said they should help equip African countries, small island nations, less-developed countries and land-locked nations adapt to climatic catastrophes.

"China will continue its unremitting endeavors in boosting energy efficiency and by 2020, we should try to achieve a significant cut of carbon dioxide emissions per unit of gross domestic product," Hu said.

Experts said it was the first time China's leader had described shifting China's policy away from energy intensity toward carbon management.

It was also the first time China had announced its mid-term goal of mitigating climate change, even though it has not yet added numbers.

"The pledge of a carbon intensity cut has been embedded with tremendous policy implications for China's future sustainable development," Daniel Dudek, chief economist with US-based Environmental Defense, told China Daily.

Dudek said Hu went to New York with new commitments.