The Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) on cooperation in dealing with climate change signed by China and India is conducive to the positive results of the upcoming Copenhagen meeting, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said?in Beijing?Thursday.

At a regular press briefing, Ma said, the agreement was signed by Xie Zhenhua, vice minister of the National Development and Reform Commission of China, and Jairam Ramesh, Minister of Environment and Forestry of India, at the national action plan joint meeting on climate change held by the two governments Wednesday.

Ma said, the signing of this agreement indicated that China-India cooperation on climate change had ushered into a new stage.

Based on the MoA, China and India would build partnership on climate change and strengthen cooperation in alleviation, adaptation and empowerment projects concerning climate change.

The two countries would also set up a Joint Working Group, which would hold annual meetings alternately in China and India, to exchange views on major issues on global climate talks, domestic policies and measures, and implementing related cooperative projects, according to the MoA.

China and India shared extensive common interests in tackling the climate change, said Ma, adding that the two countries are newly emerged major developing countries, which are seeking their own development while promoting international cooperation to deal with climate change.

Ma said, both countries are important participants of Copenhagen climate change negotiations. Their decisions on enhancing climate change cooperation are not only in their own interests, but also helpful to global efforts in combating climate change.

A UN meeting on climate change will be held in December in Copenhagen, capital of Denmark.