Chinese premier to attend Copenhagen climate talks

Beijing - Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao will attend global talks on reductions of carbon emissions in Copenhagen early next month, the Foreign Ministry said on Thursday. Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said China aimed to "reach a fair and reasonable arrangement" during negotiations in Copenhagen on global reductions in carbon emissions.

US President Barack Obama is to travel to Copenhagen during the early stages of the UN-sponsored summit starting on December 9, US officials announced on Wednesday.

Qin declined to say why China planned to send Wen, rather than President Hu Jintao, to Copenhagen.

On Wednesday, Yu Qingtai, the ministry's top official for climate change negotiations accused developed nations of lacking the faith to take the lead on agreeing a new treaty on climate change.

"The reason why there was not enough progress in the negotiations is the lack of faith by developed countries," Yu said.

Technological and financial aid promised to developing countries to battle climate change since 1992 had never materialized, Yu told reporters.

Asked whether China would still pursue a legally binding climate deal in Copenhagen, Yu said: "What is more important is the substantial content of the outcome than the title of the agreement."

China insists that developed nations should take the lead on reducing emissions since they have produced most of the carbon that spurred global warming.

It wants any agreement in Copenhagen to include substantial reduction targets for developed nations plus financial and technological aid for developing countries, Yu said.

International environmental group Greenpeace on Wednesday speculated that the Chinese government could announce new targets for emissions reductions at a press conference scheduled on Friday.