2009-09-26 CRI Roundup

Hello and welcome to this edition of CRI Roundup on China Radio International. I'm Kelda Yuen in Beijing.
In this edition, Chinese President Hu Jintao wraps up his New York trip to the largest-ever gathering of more than 100 world leaders at the United Nations headquarters to discuss a host of pressing issues, including climate change and nuclear security.

Please stay with us.

President Hu Jintao arrived in New York on Monday, where he attended the UN Climate Change Summit, the 64th annual UN General Assembly debate and the Security Council's Nuclear Nonproliferation and Disarmament Summit. It is the first time that a Chinese head of state has attended so many UN summits during a single visit since China resumed its legitimate seat at the United Nations in 1971.

Addressing the UN Climate Change Summit on Tuesday, the president unveiled China's new plans for tackling global warming.

"In the years ahead, China will further integrate our actions on climate change into our economic and social development plans and take the following measures. We will intensify our efforts to conserve energy and improve energy efficiency. We will endeavor to cut CO2 emissions per unit of GDP by a notable margin by 2020 from the 2005 level."

Hu Jintao said China will vigorously develop renewable energy and nuclear energy with a target of increasing the share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption to around 15 percent by 2020. He also emphasized the need for developed nations to offer help to developing countries in coping with the problem of climate change.

"Developed countries should shoulder their duty to provide new, additional, adequate, predictable funding support to developing countries to provide them with climate friendly technologies."

President Hu Jintao also put forward a four-point proposal on building a harmonious world in his address to the UN General Assembly on Wednesday. He called on the international community to work together for world peace and development.

"We should view security in a broader perspective and safeguard world peace and stability. We should take a more holistic approach to development and promote common prosperity. We should pursue cooperation with a more open mind and work for mutual benefit and common progress. We should be more tolerant of one another and live together in harmony."

The Chinese president stressed that world prosperity and a more just and equitable international economic order was contingent on "the development and equal participation of developing countries."

"International financial institutions should assign more resources to helping developing countries with poverty alleviation and offer them loans with more and easier channels. Greater effort should be made to increase the representation and voice of developing countries in reforming the international financial system. Responsible measures should be taken to counter the international financial crisis, firmly oppose protectionism and actively work for an early, comprehensive and balanced outcome of the Doha round negotiations."

Hu Jintao called for common progress based on harmony and close cooperation. He also urged greater tolerance in international relations, stressing that mutual learning and tolerance are an inexhaustible source of strength for social progress.

"A more developed China will make a greater contribution to the world and bring more opportunities to the world. China will continue its peaceful development strategy and opening-up policy on the basis of mutual benefits. We will continue to strengthen relations with all countries on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. China has always been and will continue to be the supporting force of world peace and prosperity."

At the U.N. Security Council Summit on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament, President Hu Jintao outlined China's propositions on the issue, which call for stepping up efforts to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, promote disarmament and "reduce the risk of nuclear terrorism."

"First, maintain global strategic balance and stability and vigorously advance nuclear disarmament. All nuclear-weapon states should fulfill good faith obligations under Article ⅵ of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), and publicly undertake not to seek permanent possession of nuclear weapons. Countries with the largest nuclear arsenals should continue to take the lead in making drastic and substantive reductions in their nuclear weapons."

Hu Jintao has also urged the abandonment of the nuclear deterrence policy based on first use of nuclear weapons; and the full respect of the right of all countries to peaceful use of nuclear energy and active international cooperation. He reiterated that China is firmly committed to a nuclear strategy of self-defense, and has adhered to the policy of no-first-use of nuclear weapons at any time and under any circumstance.

"China does not participate in any form of nuclear arms race. We will continue to keep our nuclear capabilities at the minimum level required for national security, and make effort to advance the international nuclear disarmament process. China will continue to play a constructive role in upholding the international nuclear non-proliferation regime."

The U.N. Security Council Summit on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament unanimously approved a resolution on Thursday, calling on nuclear weapons states to scrap their arsenals.

President Hu Jintao also met with US President Barack Obama on the sidelines of his UN meetings in New York. Both have exchanged views on bilateral ties and other important issues of common concern.

And that concludes this edition of CRI Roundup. If you have any comments or suggestions or would like to listen to any of our programs online, you can visit our Web site at Crienglish.com. I'm Kelda Yuen in Beijing. Thanks for listening. Stay tuned for more on China Radio International.