Xi warns against mentality of zero-sum game in climate talks

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a speech for the opening day of the World Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP21) at Le Bourget, near Paris, France, November 30, 2015.[Photo/cop21.gouv.fr]

PARIS -- The Paris climate change conference should reject the narrow-minded mentality of zero-sum game, Chinese President Xi Jinping said here Monday, urging all countries, developed countries in particular, to assume more shared responsibilities for win-win outcomes.

Xi made the remarks when delivering a speech at the opening ceremony of the two-week conference, officially called the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The Paris conference is not the finishing line, but a new starting point, as an important part of global governance, Xi told delegates at the opening ceremony.

World leaders' presence at Paris shows that terrorism can not hold back mankind's efforts to address climate change and pursue a better future, Xi added.

He urged developed countries to honor commitment of $100 billion climate fund annually by 2020.

Xi also pointed out that addressing climate change should not deprive developing countries of rights to reduce poverty and improve people's livelihood.

The highly-anticipated meeting, opened by leaders from over 150 countries, aims to yield a new international agreement to reduce greenhouse gases beyond 2020 when the 1997 Kyoto Protocol expires.

Such an accord is seen as crucial for keeping the rise in global temperatures within 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial times, a goal scientists say should be met to avoid risky changes in the climate.

The following are quotes in Chinese President ‪Xi Jinping‬'s speech at ‪Paris‬ climate change conference.

- China aims to cut its carbon emissions per unit of GDP by 60-65% from 2005 levels by 2030;

- China promises to increase non-fossil fuel sources in primary energy consumption to about 20% and peak its carbon emissions by the same date;

- China will set up a South-South cooperation fund worth 20 billion yuan ($3.1 billion) to help other developing countries cope with the effects of climate change;

- Developed countries should share more and take more responsibilities on climate change.