AAP NewsWire

China said it will cut the intensity of carbon dioxide emissions per unit of gross domestic product in 2020 by 40 to 45 per cent from 2005 levels, offering targets for the first time.

"This is a voluntary action taken by the Chinese government based on its own national conditions and is a major contribution to the global effort in tackling climate change," Xinhua news agency quoted a statement from the State Council, or cabinet, as saying.

The announcement marks the first time China has issued numerical targets for plans to curb the growth of greenhouse gas emissions in the run-up to next month's high stakes UN climate change summit in Copenhagen.

China announced earlier that Premier Wen Jiabao will attend Copenhagen summit, being held in the Danish capital from December 7-18 to seek a successor to the Kyoto Protocol on limiting the greenhouse gases blamed for climate change.