Warsaw climate talks end with delayed deal

By Gong Yingchun in Warsaw, Poland

China.org.cn, November 24, 2013

Xie Zhenhua, head of the Chinese delegation and vice chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, speaks after the closing conference of the Warsaw climate talks on Saturday evening, Nov. 23. [Photo by Dong Yan/China.org.cn]

The Warsaw climate talks concluded with a deal on Saturday evening after a 48-hour discussion, delaying the original end date of the meeting by one day. "We are dissatisfied with many issues, but the agreement is acceptable," said Xie Zhenhua, head of the Chinese delegation and vice chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission on Saturday.

Xie said all parties involved have reached an "unsatisfactory yet acceptable" deal on core issues regarding the Durban Platform, funding as well as the lost and damages, laying the foundation for a new deal at the next two climate talks in Lima and Paris.

Xie pointed out the Chinese delegation have had to compromise on some issues, displaying a great deal of flexibility, in a bid to ensure the success of the conference and maintain the effective multi-lateral mechanism.

He noted that the Chinese delegation will notably step up its efforts in addressing climate change and protecting the environment through exchanges and negotiations with further delegations next year as to achieve even more success within a multi-lateral process by 2015.