UN climate talks resumed

The Bonn gathering is being attended by more than 4,500 participants from governments, businesses and industries, environmental organizations and research institutions in about 180 countries.

The session is the first opportunity for parties to engage in serious and substantive talks since last December's contentious Copenhagen conference. It focuses on a draft text for discussions at the Cancun meeting.

However, it has become apparent from the start of the latest talks the gap between developed countries and developing countries remains, casting a shadow over what will be achieved here.

In April, the chair of the working group on long-term cooperative action (AWG-LCA), Margaret Mukahanana-Sangarwe from Zimbabwe, was asked to produce a new text to facilitate discussions. However, the new text was rejected by participants on the first day of the negotiations here.

The United States said it did not think the new text was intended as a basis for negotiations, while South Africa said the document put too much burden on developing countries.

A revised text would be published by Saturday, delaying negotiations, delegates said.

A meeting focusing on emissions reduction commitments from 37 industrialized countries that have ratified the Kyoto Protocol will start Tuesday; Kazinform cites Xinhua. See www.news.xinhuanet.com for full version.