China said it wants Japan to set up a forum in Tokyo with developers of clean technologies this year to help the world's fastest-growing major economy find ways to reduce carbon emissions.

Xie Zhenhua, vice chairman of China's National Development and Reform Commission, proposed holding the meeting when he met on Saturday with Japan's Environment Minister Ichiro Kamoshita, a ministry official told reporters under the condition of anonymity. Xie and Kamoshita are attending the Group of Eight environment ministers meeting in Japan's western city of Kobe, which ends today.

President Hu Jintao and Japan's Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda this month agreed to strengthen cooperation in tackling climate change.

Japan, which will be hosting the G8 summit in July, is taking the initiative in persuading developing nations to take part in a successor to the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.

Xie, who proposed holding the meeting at the end of the year, emphasized that Japanese support is vital for China to cope with global warming and other environmental issues, the official said.

Kamoshita has said G8 countries should make concerted efforts to raise global funds to develop clean technologies and help developing countries reduce greenhouse gases that are blamed for global warming. Along with the G8 nations, nine other countries are participating in the Kobe event including Australia, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, South Korea and South Africa, Bloomberg News said.

The Kyoto Protocol requires its 37 signatory nations to cut emissions by a total 5.2 percent from 1990 levels by 2012.

(Shanghai Daily May 26, 2008)