MYSTERIOUS MEETING

At a banquet hosted by Danish Queen Margrethe II on Dec. 17 evening, Premier Wen was told that the United States would hold a small-scope meeting between several countries' leaders after the dinner.

China's Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei addresses a press conference during the high-level segment of the United Nations Framework Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, capital of Denmark, Dec. 17, 2009. [Xinhua]

During his talk with a foreign leader, Premier Wen learnt China was on the list of the meeting's participating countries while himself was not invited and neither did the Chinese delegation receive a notice for the mysterious meeting.

Why was the Chinese delegation not informed? Premier Wen felt quite astonished and was vigilant after he confirmed the meeting with other foreign leaders.

On behalf of the Chinese delegation, Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei came to the meeting and expressed strong dissatisfaction to the convocator's ulterior motive for not informing China.

He said that the meeting should be transparent and no participants should impose their will on others. Any scheme in darkness would probably lead to a fruitless summit.

UNEXPLAINED DELAY

On the second morning of his stay in Copenhagen, hours before the final summit segment of the U.N. climate change conference, Wen met with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who had just arrived.

Both of the leaders held that no matter what happened, the two countries should keep in close touch and firmly defend the interests of developing countries.

At 9:45 a.m., Premier Wen arrived at the main venue of the conference, 15 minutes earlier than the scheduled opening.

However, neither the host Danish Prime Minister Rasmussen nor the U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was present even at 10 a.m..

People were guessing what was the matter, but no one came to explain the reason for the delay.

Premier Wen made a prompt decision to propose a meeting of the BASIC countries. The leaders just sat around a tea table in the hall and began exchanging views.

It was until 11:30 that Rasmussen announced the opening of the summit.

Premier Wen was the first to deliver a speech, titled "Build Consensus and Strengthen Cooperation to Advance the Historical Process of Combating Climate Change."

In the speech with 2,000-odd Chinese characters, Wen made it clear that what China thought, did and would do to cope with climate change.

At the end of his speech, Wen made a serious promise.

"It is with a sense of responsibility to the Chinese people and the whole mankind that the Chinese government has set the target for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. This is a voluntary action China has taken in the light of its national circumstances. We have not attached any condition to the target, nor have we linked it to the target of any other country," Wen said.

"We will honor our word with real action. Whatever outcome this conference may produce, we will be fully committed to achieving and even exceeding the target."

Premier Wen's speech won long-time applause at the conference venue. Some foreign leaders congratulated Wen on his speech with handshaking.