(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-03-20 09:46

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair said in Beijing Wednesday China was making big efforts on tackling climate change issue, calling for more support from developed countries to developing countries on clean technology transfer.

Blair, who was here on a three-day visit to China, spoke positively of China's efforts on cutting greenhouse gas emission in an interview with Xinhua.

It is significant that China has made regulations on decreasing energy intensity of 20 percent by 2010, Blair told Xinhua, calling it "an ambitious target".

Considering the climate change issue "the biggest long-term challenge" the whole world faces at the current stage, Blair said the most challenging job now is how to make sure developing countries could carry on growing and at the same time take action on climate change.

"Countries like China and India should industrialize rapidly without repeating the mistakes we made," he said, urging developed countries to give more financial support on transferring clean technology to developing countries.

"We have got to accept the responsibility of the problems we created and help China, India and other countries to develop in a more sustainable way," Blair said.

On the upcoming Olympics in Beijing, Blair said he believed that China would put on a great Games with fantastic facilities and it would be very exciting to see a success in the Beijing Olympics.

Having confirmed he himself would come back for the event in August, Blair praised Beijing's efforts on trying to make sure the Olympics are an "environmental responsible" one.

He said there are a lot of experiences which can be shared, such as the issues of transport, security and organizing works, between Beijing and London, the host of the 2012 Olympics.

Blair was here at the invitation of Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs. He met with senior government officials and had discussions with Chinese entrepreneurs on how to develop a low-carbon economy in China.

This is his seventh visit to China and the second after leaving the office of prime minister last June.