India, Japan seek 'fair' greenhouse gas reduction target

Identifying climate change as "an important global challenge", India and Japan today agreed to work for an "ambitious" but "equitable and fair" greenhouse gas reduction target and hoped that any new pact on the issue would not impede the developing world's economic growth.

External affairs Minister SM Krishna, who is on a four- day visit here, held wide-ranging discussions with the Japanese side on various issues of mutual interest during the third strategic dialogue he co-chaired with his counterpart Hirofumi Nakasone.

The two sides agreed that climate change was "an important global challenge," Krishna said at a joint press conference with Nakasone after the delegation-level talks.

They expressed the hope that all countries will participate constructively under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol to have an "ambitious" and at the same time "equitable and fair" outcome at the Copenhagen talks on the issue later this year.

The two sides hoped that the outcome of the Copenhagen talks will ensure that developing countries are able to continue their economic growth at an accelerated pace, Krishna said.
    
Japanese foreign minister Nakasone asked India to do more to combat climate change. "I expressed my hope and expectations for India to exercise leadership in a more positive way and with a broader perspective," he said.
    
Japan has been keen to get India's support on persuading developed and emerging countries to iron out differences on how to deal with the climate change ahead of the crucial meeting in Copenhagen in December, when delegates hope to conclude a new pact on the issue.