India, Japan seek 'fair' greenhouse gas reduction target

Sagar Kulkarni

Tokyo, July 3 (PTI) Identifying climate change as "an
important global challenge", India and Japan Friday agreed to
work for an "ambitious" but "equitable and fair" greenhouse
gas reduction target and hoped that any new pact on the issue
would not impede the developing world's economic growth.

India's External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, who is on
a four-day visit here, held wide-ranging discussions with the
Japanese side on various issues of mutual interest during the
third strategic dialogue he co-chaired with his counterpart
Hirofumi Nakasone.

The two sides agreed that climate change was "an
important global challenge," Krishna said at a joint press
conference with Nakasone after the delegation-level talks.

They expressed the hope that all countries will
participate constructively under the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol to have an
"ambitious" and at the same time "equitable and fair" outcome
at the Copenhagen talks on the issue later this year.

The two sides hoped that the outcome of the Copenhagen
talks will ensure that developing countries are able to
continue their economic growth at an accelerated pace, Krishna
said.

Japanese Foreign Minister Nakasone asked India to do more
to combat climate change. "I expressed my hope and
expectations for India to exercise leadership in a more
positive way and with a broader perspective," he said.

Japan has been keen to get India's support on persuading
developed and emerging countries to iron out differences on
how to deal with the climate change ahead of the crucial
meeting in Copenhagen in December, when delegates hope to
conclude a new pact on the issue. PTI SKU
RAI
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