China's climate negotiator keeping an "open mind" on AGW

Mr Xie’s comments appeared to surprise the other environment ministers and envoys at a news conference at the end of their two-day meeting.

He said: “It is already a solid fact that the climate is warming.

“There is one starkly different view, that the climate change or climate warming issue is caused by the cyclical element of nature itself.

“I think we need to adopt an open attitude to the scientific research.”