'I would like to mention that our position and the Chinese position are nearly identical, and we have been coordinating with that country. Quite to the contrary, the greater the threat from global warming, the greater the responsibility of developed countries to take on ambitious emission reduction targets.'

The prime minister pointed out that was why 37 developing countries including India, China, Brazil, South Africa and Indonesia had tabled a submission at the multilateral negotiations (in Bonn this June), asking the developed countries to accept (greenhouse gas emission) reduction targets of at least 40 percent by 2020 with 1990 as the baseline.

'The Major Economic Forum Declaration reaffirms the principles and provisions of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, in particular, the principle of equity and of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities,' Manmohan Singh said and reminded MPs that the convention imposes emission reduction targets only on developed countries.

'Developing countries are committed to sustainable development. The full incremental cost of any mitigation by them must be fully compensated by transfers of financial and technological resources from developed countries. This is fully reflected in the Major Economic Forum Declaration,' the prime minister declared.

'Furthermore, at the insistence of India, supported by other developing countries, the declaration includes an explicit acknowledgement that in undertaking climate change action, the 'first and overriding priority' of developing countries will be their pursuit of the goals of economic and social development and poverty eradication.

'This should allay any apprehension that India will be under pressure to undertake commitments that may undermine her economic growth prospects.'