China's efforts to promote worldwide cooperation in addressing environmental problems related to climate change have been acclaimed by participants at an international forum on the issue.

China is one of the countries that has been involved in the World Meteorological Organization's (WMO) urban research projects which aim to fight pollution, WMO Secretary-General Godwin Obasi said Monday at the International Symposium on Climate Change.

"I am delighted to see China's leadership role and commitment to promoting world cooperation in environmental issues, especially those related to climate," Obasi said.

The global warming trend will continue in the next five to 10 decades. It is linked to the growth of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, according to meteorologists with the China Meteorological Bureau.

As a result of warming, the global average sea level has risen by as much as 20 centimeters since the beginning of the 20th century, they said.

The Chinese Government always attaches great importance to the issue of climate change and has been participating actively in international efforts under the United Nations (UN) and other international organizations, Vice Premier Hui Liangyu said Monday at the opening ceremony for the three-day symposium.

China signed the UN Convention on Climate Change in 1992 and drew the country's Agenda 21 towards sustainable development. It approved the Kyoto Protocol last year and has established the National Coordinating Group on Climate Change and National Climate Committee.

To highlight the negative influence of climate change, the National Climate Committee organized the forum. It has attracted more than 400 meteorological experts from 61 countries.

(China Daily April 1, 2003)