The Prime Minister of Denmark stated that China is dedicated to achieving a climate change agreement at important discussions next year, and encouraged countries not to use the global economic crisis as an excuse to postpone a deal. Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, along with other European leaders, is currently in Beijing for an Asia-Europe meeting. As Copenhagen prepares to host final negotiations on a new climate change agreement late next year, Rasmussen has been working to gain China's support, as the country is a major contributor to carbon dioxide emissions, the primary greenhouse gas responsible for global warming. Rasmussen confirmed that he had discussions with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, who expressed China's commitment to reaching an agreement in Copenhagen. The two countries agreed to work towards a common goal of reaching a decision at the climate conference in December 2009. The talks, set to conclude late next year, are aimed at developing a treaty based on the current Kyoto Protocol climate agreement which ends in 2012. Denmark's role as host has given the country a unique position in the negotiations. Despite global focus on the financial crisis and disagreements between wealthy and developing nations on how to address climate change, Chinese commitment has been seen as a positive development by Danish Prime Minister Rasmussen. He urged other countries not to let the economic downturn hinder progress towards a new agreement, suggesting that investing in green technology could actually help boost the economy. Rasmussen expressed concern that the financial crisis could be used as an excuse to weaken efforts to combat climate change. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso emphasized the importance of staying focused on efforts to combat climate change, urging China to join in the fight despite the financial crisis. He highlighted the potential consequences of delaying action on climate change and stated that while there is a cost to reducing emissions, the cost of climate change will be far higher, especially for China. Barroso called for continued progress in addressing climate change, stating that it is crucial to keep efforts on track, even in the face of the current economic challenges. China and other developing nations are not required to set limits on their greenhouse gas emissions under the existing Kyoto pact. However, China's rapidly increasing emissions, which experts believe now exceed those of the United States, have prompted other countries to demand that it adhere to stricter limits. European Union environment ministers recently suggested that developing countries should agree to keep emissions between 15 and 30 percent below "business as usual" levels. According to Rasmussen, the EU's proposal, which does not establish a specific cap on emissions for poorer countries but requires them to take measurable actions, could encourage China and other developing nations to make commitments. Rasmussen emphasized that contributions from industrialized countries alone will not suffice, stressing the need for involvement from major emerging economies. During the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) opening on Friday, the European Union's 27 member states and the European Commission will engage in discussions about climate change policy with Japan, China, India, and 13 other Asian countries. Rasmussen expressed his hope that this meeting will result in an agreement to strive for a pact in Copenhagen.