Preserve the progress in Copenhagen: Wen

Premier Wen Jiabao yesterday spoke of China's desire to see progress and consensus reached up to now written into the outcome paper from the two-week UN climate change conference in Copenhagen, despite the gloomy expectations hanging over the Danish capital.

Wen said the paper can still provide momentum for future international cooperation and negotiation and he called on negotiators and global leaders to take swift action to lock in achievements made during two years of tough talks aimed at finding a successor to the Kyoto Protocol.

With snow melting in bright sunshine yesterday and with the UN conference entering its crucial final stage, Wen told Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon that world leaders should make every effort to find common ground.

Wen will likely make his case during his five-minute speech at the UN climate change leaders plenary today. He is also scheduled to make a one-minute statement during the second phase of the plenary.