Brussels, 05/11/2007 (Agence Europe) - A delegation of MEPs dispatched to Peking by the European Parliament temporary committee on climate change is visiting China (5-7 November) for a preparatory mission before the UN conference in Bali (3-14 December) where international negotiations are expected to begin on a world-wide system for fighting global warming beyond 2012.
Headed by Guido Sacconi (PES, Italy), the chairman of the parliamentary temporary committee, the delegation will meet officials, political decision-makers, experts and representatives from Chinese civil society in the hope of promoting a consensus between industrialised and developing countries on modalities for a post-Kyoto agreement. Sacconi pointed out that “As the most populous country in the world and a fast growing economy, China certainly has an important role to play…China recently adopted a climate change programme and is strongly committed to improve its energy efficiency”. Karl-Heinz Florenz (EPP-ED, Germany), the temporary committee rapporteur added: “Establishing a new international climate change regime after the expiry of the Kyoto Protocol in 2012 will only be possible if countries like China or India are part of such an agreement. This is why the European Parliament attaches such importance to 'environmental foreign policy'…We would like to learn more about what China is doing in the area of climate change and to better understand the Chinese position” on this issue.
Chinese participants in the discussions with MEPs include Mr Ma Kai, Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, Mr Wan Gang, Minister of Science and Technology, Mr Sun Jian, Director of the General Office of the Meteorological Administration, Mr Yu Quingtai, the special representative in charge of international negotiations on climate change. (A.N.)