Washington, Sept.22 : China has said that developed countries should continue to take the lead in reducing emissions in the post Kyoto Protocol period.

China's newly appointed special representative for climate change, Yui Qingtai, has said that the current international mechanism for tackling global warming after 2012 should define the obligations of developed countries.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the UN-sponsored Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012, are key guiding instruments for addressing global warming.

China, as a developing country and a signatory of the protocol, believes post-Kyoto regulations should be part of the UN process.

Speaking of China's position in the international negotiations on climate change, Yu said China insists on international cooperation, pursuing sustainable development, upholding the UNFCCC as the core mechanism and promoting scientific and technological innovation.

Beijing has set targets of reducing energy consumption per unit of the gross domestic product by 20 percent and discharges of main pollutants by 10 percent and raising forest coverage from 18.2 percent to 20 percent between the end of 2005 and 2010.

The State Council had set up a leading group for work on responding to climate change, headed by Premier Wen Jiabao.

In addition, the Foreign Ministry has established a leading group in charge of international work on climate change, headed by Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi. The group has two deputy heads, Vice-Foreign Minister Wu Dawei and Assistant Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai. (With inputs from ANI)