Copenhagen deal: China hits back at US, claims credit

After being accused by the western media of torpedoing the Copenhagen climate summit, China hit back on Friday saying its premier Wen Jiabao played a “constructive role” in hammering out the accord.

After being accused by the western media of torpedoing the Copenhagen climate summit, China hit back on Friday saying its premier Wen Jiabao played a “constructive role” in hammering out the accord.

HT Image

Releasing the entire schedule of Jiabao, Chinese official news agency Xinhua said the premier met leaders from different countries — rich and poor — to reach a consensus on the “non-binding” deal.

In the same vein, the news agency took a dig at the Obama government by quoting Jiabao as taking exception to US holding a meeting of select group of countries including China but not informing him about it.

“Why was the Chinese delegation not informed?… Premier Wen took the incident seriously and came back to his hotel immediately to call an emergency meeting to study countermeasures for the situation,” the Xinhua report, said.

On the claim that US president Barack Obama walked in to a meeting of leaders from India, China, Brazil and South Africa and ensured the deal, the report said most countries did not agree with Obama’s proposal.

“It was Premier Wen, who played a key role in the last-minute attempt to exchange ideas and reach consensus,” the report said, claiming that he met leaders of G-77 and African block to reach a consensus.

Finally, a deal was struck after Obama met Wen for the second time after a meeting of leaders from BASIC countries, including Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, six hours after the summit was scheduled to end.