Japan urges China to make 'international commitment' to cut emissions+

BEIJING, Nov. 8 Kyodo -
Japan urged China on Sunday to make an ''international commitment'' to reduce
greenhouse gases in a new carbon-capping framework to succeed the Kyoto
Protocol.

Japan ''strongly hopes China will show its active initiative (to curb
emissions) to the international community in a new international framework as
an international commitment,'' Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Masayuki
Naoshima told a Japan-China energy-saving and environmental forum in Beijing.
Citing data that Chinese energy consumption will double in 2030 from the
current level, Naoshima said it would be indispensable for Japan -- which has
rich experience and knowhow in energy saving -- and China -- the world's
largest carbon emitter along with the United States -- to jointly address
climate change.
Naoshima made the pitch ahead of a key U.N. climate change conference in
December in Copenhagen where the world will try to clinch a deal on a successor
agreement to the Kyoto pact, which expires in 2012.
A total of 42 energy-saving, recycling, sewage, water purification and other
environment-related projects involving the private and public sectors were
signed at the Beijing forum. The event, the fourth of its kind, brought
together about 1,000 business leaders, government officials and academics from
the two countries.
Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang said China will speed up the development of
clean and renewable energy as part of efforts to curb emissions.
Li requested that Japan accelerate the transfer and promotion of
environment-related technology to China, while promising that China will ensure
that the intellectual property rights of Japanese companies are protected.
Japan and China are scheduled to hold a first working-level meeting on
intellectual property rights in Tokyo on Nov. 19.
Similarly, Xie Zhenhua, vice chairman of China's National Development and
Reform Commission, called for increased tie-ups with Japan in developing the
energy-saving and environment-related sector, which he described as a ''newly
emerging strategic industry.''
Xie estimates that the output of China's energy-saving and environment industry
will be worth 2.8 trillion yuan, or 37 trillion yen, in 2012.
Chinese Vice Commerce Minister Chen Jian proposed that the two governments set
up a bilateral fund to facilitate financing of major energy-saving and
environmental projects, which companies alone cannot not afford.
Naoshima told reporters later that Japan will consider Chen's proposal.
==Kyodo
2009-11-08 21:31:41