Full text of President Hu's address at UN Climate Change Summit -- "Join Hands to Address Climate Challenge"

Chinese President Hu Jintao said here on Tuesday the international community should tackle global climate change through common development, calling for international joint work and pledging China's continued efforts on this issue. Following is the full text:

Join Hands to Address Climate Challenge

Statement by H.E. Hu Jintao

President of the People's Republic of China

At the Opening Plenary Session of

The United Nations Summit on Climate Change

New York, 22 September 2009

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon,

Dear Colleagues,

Today, world leaders are gathered at the United Nations to discuss ways to tackle climate change. This is of great significance for catalyzing strong action by the international community to meet this global challenge.

Global climate change has a profound impact on the existence and development of mankind, and is a major challenge facing all countries. In the last 37 years, from Stockholm to Rio de Janeiro, and from Kyoto to Bali, we have made concerted efforts and achieved notable progress in protecting the global environment and tackling climate change. This is a historic process, through which all countries have deepened their understanding, built consensus and stepped forward to meet the challenge. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Kyoto Protocol have now been universally recognized as the primary channel to address climate change. The principle of common but differentiated responsibilities has been established as the basis for closer international cooperation. And sustainable development and harmony between man and nature has become the common goal of all parties.