President Hu Jintao yesterday called on the world community to work together on climate change but to recognize that each nation has its own part to play.

"We should adhere to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities established in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change," he said at a meeting in Germany between the Group of Eight wealthy industrialized nations and five major developing countries.

The principle should recognize differences among countries in their level of economic development, historical responsibility and current per-capita emissions, Hu said at the meeting, in the Baltic resort of Heiligendamm.

"Climate change is an environmental issue, but it is, in essence, a development issue," he said.

"The challenge of climate change can only be fully met by improving technologies in the course of development and making production and consumption patterns compatible with sustainable development."

While working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the international community should give full consideration to managing the climate change that has already occurred and mitigate climate disasters for developing countries, especially small island countries and the least developed nations, he said.

Hu urged developed countries to meet the emissions reduction targets set in the Kyoto Protocol, provide assistance to developing countries and continue to take the lead in fulfilling obligations to reduce emissions after 2012.

Hu said that many developing countries "still have a long way to go before achieving industrialization, urbanization and modernization, and they face an arduous task to develop economies and improve people's lives."

"Developing countries should also, within their capabilities and in light of their conditions, take steps to contribute to global sustainable development," Hu said.

Although China's per-capita carbon dioxide emissions are less than one-third of the average level in developed countries, the government has adopted a series of measures to reduce carbon emission in recent years, the president said.

China has reformed its industrial structure to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions, Hu said.