The third Major Economies Meeting on Energy Security and Climate Change (MEM) closed here on Friday with no agreement reached on specific greenhouse gas reduction goals.

Representatives from 16 major economies and international organizations agreed to lay out middle and long-term goals on greenhouse gas reduction, the French state secretary for European Affairs Jean-Pierre Jouyet told a press conference.

However, differences still remain on the specific goals for limiting the greenhouse gases. As a result, representatives agreed to hold another two rounds of meetings in this May and June, respectively, he added.

During the two-day meeting, representatives have exchanged views on long-term greenhouse gas reduction goals, technological cooperation as well as financing, he said.

They have agreed that climate change is a pressing issue which calls for close cooperation among all countries. However, there are still some major differences between the European Union (EU) and the United States as well as between the developing countries and the developed world, Jouyet said.

Bush had long resisted the EU's calls for specific reduction targets to curb the carbon-dioxide emission that scientists have linked to global warming.

Differences between developed nations and developing countries were focused on how to clarify responsibilities in eliminating greenhouse gases.

Stressing the principle of common but differentiated responsibility, Jouyet said that developed countries should take the lead in reducing carbon emission.

While the developing countries should also contribute their due part in tackling climate change, he added.

The meeting of major economies on energy and climate was organized at the initiative of the United States, and brought together Germany, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, South Korea, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Britain, Russia and South Africa, as well as the UN, the European Union (EU) and the International Energy Agency.

The series of major economy meetings aim to form a new international frame for climate change.

The Paris meeting is the third since the establishment of this body. The first meeting was held in Washington in September 2007.

(Xinhua News Agency April 19, 2008)