Beijing undergoes 'change' in thinking

President Xi Jinping's attendance at the climate change conference in Paris demonstrates China's proactive approach to its role on the global stage, said Bernard Dewit, chairman of the Belgian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce since 1996.

"It is significant that President Xi himself will be attending the climate summit, showing Beijing's commitment to tackling the climate change challenge," said Dewit in an interview with China Daily. "This shows how important the conference is in China's view."

During previous months, China and the United States, the world's biggest economies and carbon emitters, have worked together on reducing carbon pollutants.