China emphasized that developing countries should shoulder the responsibility of cutting emissions but should not have to meet compulsory targets set by rich nations.
"Setting a target of cutting emissions is a principal issue for a nation, which should be done by the country itself," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told a routine news conference.
Liu added that China always stands with its principles on dealing with climate changes.
"Climate change is an issue concerning the survival and development of humankind, which also requires common efforts by international society," said Liu.
He said that developed countries should face up to their historical responsibilities, take the lead in cutting emissions and honor their commitments on technological transfer and financial aid to developing countries.
The "common but differentiated responsibilities" established by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change represented an international consensus and all countries should uphold the Convention and its Kyoto Protocol as the basic framework for international cooperation, Liu said.
A conference on the UN framework is scheduled in Bali, Indonesia next month, with some 10,000 participants from over 189 countries expected to attend.
The United Nations hopes to launch two years of talks to develop a successor to the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012.
The United States, the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, has refused to ratify the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which mandates cuts in the greenhouse gases blamed for global warming.
"Developing countries should shoulder their due responsibilities to cut emissions; however, developed nations should not set compulsory target of cutting emissions for less developed countries," Liu said.
China has set targets on greenhouse gas emission controls to bemet in 2010, including cutting the energy intensity of GDP by 20 percent from the 2005 level and freezing industrial emissions of nitrous oxide at the 2005 level. ( Xinhua )