China's climate negotiators are expected to attend the second phase of the UN's conference talks. China's top climate negotiator Xie Zhenhua said he is optimistic about the progress and development the upcoming talks will bring.

COP17 President Maite Nkoana-Mashabane (R) speaks with the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Christiana Figueres during a news conference at the COP17 of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNCCC) in Durban December 5, 2011.

So far, China has remained open to talks about the EU's new proposals, and offered potential commitments to lower carbon emissions after 2020. Japan, Canada and Russia said they won't renew pledges under the Kyoto Protocol, while the EU is hoping to negotiate a new deal. The US has reiterated they will not join any binding agreement unless all major emitters are involved.