Climate change
Reports have circulated that China was "arrogant" after refusing to attend a key meeting prior to the Copenhagen climate change summit late last year. It is necessary to clarify the circumstances surrounding that situation.
On December 17, 2009, at a banquet hosted by the Danish Queen, a European leader informed the Chinese delegation that China was on the list of participating countries for a meeting that would be held later that evening. The Chinese delegation was shocked, and immediately checked and confirmed that no notification had been received. Despite this, the delegation still decided to send Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei to the meeting on behalf of the Chinese delegation.
So why was China not invited to the meeting? The question remains unanswered.
At the actual summit, the Chinese delegation made arduous efforts to help reach an agreement on climate issues. At the end of January this year, after the Copenhagen conference, in respective letters to the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen, China expressed its support for the Copenhagen Accord.
So why do some people persist in pointing fingers at China?
The issue of climate change concerns the survival of all human beings, the interests of all countries, and equity and justice in the international community. So China is justified to stick to the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities," and will also work with other countries to advance global efforts in addressing climate change.
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