"China Says No to Greenhouse Gas Cuts After Talks With US"

"China will not accept binding cuts in its greenhouse gas emissions, an official said Thursday, after the United States said it made progress with Beijing in talks here on a global climate pact.

The comments came after a visit by US climate change envoy Todd Stern aimed at pressing the Asian giant to commit to hard numbers on emissions reductions ahead of December talks in Copenhagen on a new global warming treaty.

'China is still a developing country and the present task confronting China is to develop its economy and alleviate poverty, as well as raise the living standard of its people,' foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang told reporters. ...

China and the United States are the world's two largest emitters of greenhouse gases that cause global warming.'"

AFP had the story June 11, 2009.