BEIJING: A group of developing nations has agreed a common position in a bid to pressure rich countries during crunch climate talks in Copenhagen after low-key talks in China, state media said today.

Representatives from China, India, Brazil, South Africa and Sudan, which currently chairs the Group of 77 developing countries, met in Beijing on Friday and Saturday, the official People’s Daily newspaper reported. They agreed to ask “developed countries to assume responsibility for emissions reduction targets in the second commitment period (from 2013),” the report said.

The December 7-18 United Nations climate conference in Copenhagen is tasked with framing a new deal for tackling global warming and its impacts beyond 2012.

But observers have warned slow progress in talks, meaning the meeting is likely at best to yield a framework accord whose details will be hammered out next year. The group of emerging economies also highlighted their view that the West should provide funds and technology to help poorer countries fight global warming.

“All sides believe that results from the Copenhagen meeting should cover topics such as a common vision for long-term cooperation... funding and technology transfer,” the report said. The group also said the conference should consider the special needs of the least developed countries in the world, small island states and African nations in fighting climate change. WWF welcomed the outcome of the meeting in a statement emailed to AFP.

“Those who will suffer the most from climate change impact are sending a strong message to those who have done the most to cause them,” said Kim Carstensen, head of WWF’s global climate initiative.