Feb 16th, 2005 is the date when the Kyoto Protocol to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change goes into effect. At a celebration held by the Chinese government, Liu Jiang, vice director of the National Development and Reform Commission of China and head of Chinese delegation to the UN for negotiation of protocol on climate change said, "The protocol's going into effect and its effective implementation signify that human society's efforts in coping with climate change have entered a new phase."

The Chinese government has attached great importance to climate change because China is a developing country easily subject to influence of climate change. China has adopted seven measures to handle the issue:

1. Found a national coordination mechanism for climate change.

2. Take active part in international negotiations regarding climate change.

3. Adopt a series of measures that are helpful for alleviating greenhouse gas emission, e.g. make and implement sustainable development strategies and incorporate handling climate change into the strategy of sustainable development; strive to improve efficiency of energy use; actively develop high quality energy and improve energy structure; in rural and remote regions support utilization of new and recyclable energy including solar energy, wind energy, terrestrial heat energy; carry out large scale tree planting activities.

4. Carefully fulfill obligations of the protocol.

5. Carry out activities to publicize knowledge about climate change, to improve public awareness.

6. Do scientific researches on climate change.

7. Be prepared for implementing the protocol.

To fully take advantage of the opportunity for clean development mechanism provided by the protocol, the Chinese government has established appraisal council and released in June 2004 the "provisional regulations on clean development mechanism programs", which stipulates procedures for application and ratification of clean development programs. So far two projects have been approved and preliminary preparations are underway.

Liu Jiang reiterated Chinese's government's persistent stand on climate change, saying adherence to the protocol's guiding function and all fundamental principles, in particular the "common but differentiated responsibility" principle is the basis for negotiation regarding climate change. China is to focus on the coordinated development of economy and environment inside the framework of sustainable development.