China to tackle climate change 'steadfastly': premier

BERLIN -- China will continue to work steadfastly to implement the commitment of the Paris climate deal and join hands with all parties to tackle climate change, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang told reporters here on Thursday.

In a joint press conference with his German counterpart Angela Merkel, Li said that China, a large developing country, should shoulder its international responsibilities to jointly address the challenge of climate change with other countries.

Combating climate change is a global consensus, said Li, adding that "with tremendous efforts, China will move towards the 2030 goal step-by-step steadfastly."

China has actively participated in promoting and the signing of the Paris Agreement, Li said, adding that China was also one of the first countries to submit the file of national plan on dealing with climate change to the United Nations.

The Paris Agreement was adopted by 196 parties in Paris in 2015 and it went into effect in November last year. The pact sets a target of holding the global average rise in temperature below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and preferably below 1.5 degree Celsius.

So far, 147 parties representing more than 82 percent of greenhouse gas emissions have ratified the agreement.

The United States, one of the biggest greenhouse emitters in the world, has not decided whether to leave the deal or to stay, as its newly-elected president, Donald Trump, has yet to unveil his decision on the issue.

The Chinese premier is on a three-day official visit to Europe. He wrapped up his German trip and arrived in Brussels, the capital city of Belgium on Thursday afternoon.

In Brussels, Li will co-chair the 19th China-EU leaders' meeting with European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, and pay an official visit to Belgium.