`Sino-India climate cooperation helping change pol climate`

K J M Varma
Beijing, May 8 (PTI) Sino-India cooperation on climate
change was helping in changing the political climate between
the two countries, India's Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh
has said as he underlined the need for New Delhi to "learn"
from China's forest management.
Ramesh, who arrived here Friday to take part in an
international environment conference, said China was doing
very well in combating climate change and becoming a leader in
the green technology.
India and China had an MOU on partnership in the field
of climate change, and the two countries are exploring
opportunities for working together in the field of
environment.
"I have talked with Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu how
we can learn from China's forest management. China has
announced some targets, India has announced some targets, how
do we accord, how do we partner each other," Ramesh said,
adding "I think India has more to learn from China than China
to learn from India."
Ramesh hoped the deepening cooperations between the two
countries will lead to "new relationship between our two
countries".
"India and China, by working together in the fields of
climate change, are demonstrating not only cooperation in
environment, but also sending a message of partnership between
the countries. I see climate change as an opportunity to
change the political climate between China and India," the
Indian Environment Minister told Xinhua news agency.
"We are hoping that these joint programmes will build a
new relationship between our two countries," he underlined.
He said a delegation from Indian Environment Ministry
has visited China to study possible cooperation in forest
management. India's forest cover is over 21 per cent and
studies show that around 10 per cent of India's annual carbon
emissions are being absorbed by forests, Ramesh said.
Praising China, he said Beijing is doing well in the
field of solar energy, wind energy and improving forest cover.
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