French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, leading the U.N. conference, stated his intention to release a nearly final draft on Thursday afternoon, aiming to minimize disagreements and unresolved issues in order to facilitate a final round of revisions. In a meeting with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Fabius expressed his determination to work towards reaching a conclusive agreement. He emphasized the importance of concluding an agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by Friday, the official end date of the conference, rather than extending the negotiations as in past conferences. However, there is still discord among ministers and negotiators from 195 countries on key issues, such as determining which countries should contribute the necessary funds to assist developing nations in transitioning from fossil fuels to cleaner energy sources. The sticking point has intensified tensions behind closed doors between the US and China regarding the "minimalist" approach mentioned by US Secretary of State John Kerry. The Chinese did not delve into specifics but mentioned a potential for compromise. The decision between 1.5 degrees or 2 degrees will be addressed in the next draft, with more consultations needed with colleagues according to Chinese negotiator Gao Feng. They hope to reach a resolution by Friday or Saturday. The discussions have reignited debates about the level of ambition the deal should have in addressing the increase in global temperatures. Developing nations are pushing for the agreement to include the long-term goal of limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, even though current carbon emission cuts are insufficient. Many participants are still affected by the failure to reach a deal in Copenhagen in 2009. There is a strong desire to reach an agreement this time, but the question remains whether it will be robust or weak. Jose Ramos-Horta, a former president of East Timor, emphasized that no country should expect to achieve all their objectives in the accord. He informed Reuters that a treaty is not permanent like the Bible and can be reviewed and potentially strengthened in the future.