Fight hard and long to save environment, Wen tells nation

BEIJING - Premier Wen Jiabao on Friday urged the nation to fight "a tough and prolonged battle" against pollution to conserve energy and protect the environment in 2010, as time to meet the five-year green targets is running out.

He assured that China will play an active role to seek progress on international cooperation on climate change, while improving adaptation and mitigation capabilities domestically amid the gloomy outlook of reaching a global deal to slow down warming.

After the Copenhagen climate conference last December failed to reach a substantial internationally binding deal, all eyes are on the next high-profile gathering in Mexico at the end of the year.