China and the United States have agreed to strengthen cooperation in areas like clean energy, as the international community gets ready to discuss a new climate treaty in Copenhagen, this December. U.S. special envoy for climate change Todd Stern has wrapped two days of talks with officials in Beijing.
美国和中国同意加强在清洁能源领域方面的合作。美国气候变化问题特使斯特恩刚刚结束了对中国两天访问。另一方面，国际社会预计将于今年12月在哥本哈根召开的联合国气候变化大会上达成新的全球气候公约。
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told reporters Tuesday China and the United States have agreed to establish a joint technological research and development center to promote cooperation in clean energy and climate-change study.
中国外交部发言人秦刚星期二对记者说，中国和美国同意建立一个联合技术研发中心，促进两国在清洁能源和气候变化问题上的合作。
Yet Qin says China and the United States have "common-but-differentiated responsibilities" when it comes to actions to prevent climate change.
他说：“双方同意将在共同但有区别责任原则的基础上，加强中美清洁能源和气候变化伙伴的合作关系。”
This same phrase was used by Vice Premier Li Keqiang Monday, before meeting with the American envoy. Its wording points to the underlying tensions of these talks. China and the United States are the top two emitters of greenhouse gases and, together, produce one half of the world's carbon-dioxide emissions from fossil fuel. But China says it is still a developing nation and that the United States should have to make bigger cuts in emissions than China.
中国副总理李克强星期一在会晤美国气候变化问题特使斯特恩前也作了所谓“共同但有区别责任”的阐述。这显示出斯特恩此行谈判的分歧所在。美国和中国是全球温室气体排放量最大的国家，两国的化石燃料二氧化碳排放量占全球总排放量的一半。但是中国表示，中国仍然是一个发展中国家，美国的排放量应该减得更多。
Stern agrees developing countries do not need to make the same emissions reductions as developed nations. Yet he says China's current cuts are insufficient.
斯特恩同意，发展中国家的减排量不必跟发达国家一样。但是，他在离开北京前也表示中国目前的减排量还不够。
Analysts agree that, unless the two countries can reach a compromise, it will be difficult to create a successful new climate-change treaty. The current Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012. China has ratified the treaty. The United States has not. In six months, the United Nations will hold a conference in Copenhagen to discuss a new agreement.
分析人士认为，除非两国能够作出妥协，否则很难达成新的全球气候公约。目前的京都议定书将在2012年到期。再过半年，联合国将在哥本哈根召开新的国际会议，讨论达成新的公约。
Spokesman Qin says the two sides agreed to push forward for positive results at the Copenhagen Climate Change conference.
中国外交部发言人秦刚说，在本星期的会晤中，中国和美国双方同意共同努力，争取哥本哈根气候变化大会上取得积极成果。
Qin says a strengthened partnership in the field of climate change will strengthen relations and encourage the international community to increase support for combatting global warming.
他说：“双方认为中美在气候变化问题上加强对话和务实合作有利于两国关系的发展，也有利于国际社会应对气候变化的合作与行动。” |