China vows to intensify efforts in tackling climate change next year

BEIJING, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- China pledged Friday to "actively" deal with climate change next year by implementing measures to cut its carbon intensity and improve energy efficiency.

The plan was agreed at a meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, chaired by President Hu Jintao, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee. The conference studied guidelines for the country's economic work in 2010.

The country would step up construction of major projects related to energy conservation and environmental protection in 2010, according to a statement released after the meeting.

More support in terms of investment should be given to promote energy saving and emissions reduction, the statement said.

The meeting came a day after China's State Council, the Cabinet, announced the country aimed to cut the amount of carbon dioxide it emitted per unit of gross domestic product by 40 to 45 percent from 2005 levels by 2020.

This was a "voluntary action" taken by the Chinese government "based on our own national conditions" and was "a major contribution to the global effort in tackling climate change," the State Council said.

Despite pressures and difficulties, China would adhere to the targets, Xie Zhenhua, Vice Minister in Charge of the National Development and Reform Commission, told a press conference Thursday.

The difficulties referred to the country's large population, relatively low economic development level and the fact the country is at a critical period to accelerate industrialization and urbanization.

"It is by no means easy, but I am confident that China can achieve what it has promised," Jin Jiaman, director of the Global Environment Institute, told Xinhua.

China had to intensify the change in its pattern of economic growth to slow the growth of emissions, she said.