India, China sign climate change deal

India and China, known as the leading polluters as well as players in fighting global warming, have signed an accord to cooperate on ways to tackle climate change.

According to the memorandum of understanding signed Wednesday in New Delhi, the two sides emphasized that the 'United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol are the most appropriate framework for addressing climate change'.

China and India say wealthy nations, including the US, should reduce emissions by 40 percent from 1990 levels by 2020, and that they ought to share technology with poorer countries to help them tackle climate change.

"There is no difference between the Indian and Chinese negotiating positions, and we are discussing further what the two countries should be doing for a successful outcome at Copenhagen," Indian Environment Minister, Jairam Ramesh, said, according to the Press Trust of India news agency.

“The differences are not important for China and India when it comes to climate change. Both are collaborating for a fair and equitable outcome at Copenhagen in keeping with the Rio Declaration of 1992, the Kyoto Protocol of 1997 and the Bali Action Plan. An outcome that fully protects and promotes the interests of developing countries,” Ramesh said.

Xie Zhenhua, the Chinese minister for national development, said the accord 'will usher in a new scenario and take cooperation on climate change between the two countries to a new level', PTI reported.

Representatives from more than 190 countries are set to meet in Copenhagen from December 7 for the final round of negotiations on a climate agreement to replace the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012.