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In Paris, Chinese President Xi Jinping has met his French counterpart Francois Hollande at the Elysée Palace, ahead of the climate change meeting.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) meets with French President Francois Hollande in Paris, France, Nov. 29, 2015. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)
Hollande welcomed Xi for the talks. They were joined by Prime Minister Manuel Valls and Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius. Xi arrived in Paris Sunday afternoon to attend the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, widely known as COP21.
The conference opens today and runs through December 11th. It is tasked with reaching a legally binding and universal climate pact. The goal is to limit average global warming to two degrees Celsius, perhaps less, over pre-Industrial Revolution levels, by curbing fossil fuel emissions.
Chinese President Xi Jinping was among the first leaders to arrive in Paris ahead of the UN climate change summit.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (3rd L) meets with French President Francois Hollande in Paris, France, Nov. 29, 2015. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)
World leaders honor Paris attack victims
Around 150 world leaders are expected to attend the opening day of the event - known as COP21.
While in Paris, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau paid tribute to the victims of the recent terror attacks, visiting the Bataclan concert hall where 90 people were killed.
The President of Chile, Michelle Bachelet, also visited the attack site where she met with relatives of one of the Chilean victims.
More than 200 arrested in Paris climate protests
In the wake of the deadly terror attacks, authorities banned protests in Paris amid security concerns
But climate activists found a novel way around the ban placing over 10,000 pairs of shoes on Paris' Place de la Republic where protesters had planned to march.
One pair was left by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon who said on the eve of the summit that time is running out and global leaders must act quickly to tackle climate change.
"The time is now to act. We don't have any time to waste. Leaders should bear and feel moral and political responsibility for humanity and this is the one which will really help put an end to poverty, making our cities healthier and more livable and making our lives much safer and more prosperous with human dignity," Ban said.
"Here at the conference venue there is some hope that the shadow cast over Paris by the attacks may actually enhance the chance of reaching an agreement. Certainly the number of world leaders attending the opening day on Monday is unprecedented and many see that as a sign that the world is ready to act."
But there are still many challenges ahead and many different opinions on the form and content an agreement should take.
As French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius formally opened negotiations on Sunday, ahead of schedule, it marked the start of what will be 12 days of very tough talks.
中国公共新闻网摘编：GAN JADE |
