The 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is currently underway in Belém, Brazil. During the conference, Corrêa do Lago, President of COP30, emphasized that while enthusiasm among the Global North appears to be waning, the Global South is increasingly taking the lead in addressing climate change. He highlighted China’s growing role in offering practical and inclusive solutions that benefit the entire world, noting that China has either met or is on track to exceed most of its pledges made a decade ago under the Paris Agreement.
In response to these remarks, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun reaffirmed China’s active participation and leadership in global climate governance. He stated that ten years after the signing of the Paris Agreement, the international community has reached a crucial stage in advancing climate action, and China is playing a vital role in that effort. Guo added that China firmly supports Brazil, the presidency of COP30, in successfully hosting this important global summit.
Special Representative of President Xi Jinping, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, and Vice Premier of the State Council, Ding Xuexiang, attended the Belém Climate Summit and delivered a keynote speech. He shared the guiding principles established during the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, emphasizing the importance of staying on the right course, turning commitments into action, and enhancing openness and cooperation. His remarks were widely regarded as a significant contribution to the success of the conference.
Guo Jiakun noted that climate change concerns the shared destiny of humanity. He remarked that “from the Global South to the Global North, from developing countries to developed countries, we are all passengers aboard the same ship. Cooperation and joint effort is the only right choice.”
The spokesperson highlighted that China has adopted a practical and results-oriented approach to climate action. The country has made carbon peaking and carbon neutrality key national strategies, establishing one of the world’s most systematic and comprehensive policy frameworks for carbon emissions reduction. China has also built the largest and fastest-growing renewable energy system globally.
Guo pointed out that China is among the nations with the fastest decline in energy intensity. Today, about 70 percent of the world’s wind power equipment and 80 percent of photovoltaic components are produced in China. This has enabled a global reduction in the cost of wind power generation by over 60 percent and photovoltaic power generation by over 80 percent, significantly accelerating the world’s transition toward clean energy.
At the United Nations Climate Summit, President Xi Jinping officially announced China’s 2035 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which cover all economic sectors and all greenhouse gases. For the first time, China has committed to an absolute emissions reduction target, underscoring its strong determination and maximum effort to fight climate change.
Guo Jiakun concluded that China will continue to collaborate with all parties under the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities,” aiming to achieve balanced and positive outcomes at COP30. He added that China remains committed to making new and substantial contributions to global climate governance and to building a sustainable future for all.
Disclaimer: This article is based on official statements from the Chinese Foreign Ministry and public remarks made during COP30 in Belém, Brazil.
