HONOLULU, United States, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Representatives from 17 major economies plus the United Nations called for rapid progress in implementing the Bali roadmap as they wrapped up a two-day closed-door meeting on climate change on Thursday.

Protester Michael Klisk (R) of Honolulu demonstrates during the Major Economies meeting on Security and Climate Change conference in Honolulu, Hawaii, Jan. 30, 2008.  (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    The participants "welcomed the Bali Action Plan to launch a comprehensive process to enable a full, effective and sustained implementation of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to result in a decision in 2009 for a long-term cooperative action," said James Connaughton, chairman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality at the press event after the meeting.

    They "underscored the importance of rapid progress in implementing the Bali Action Plan and noted that Major Economies Meetings can assist the UNFCCC toward a successful outcome," Connaughton said.

    Describing the atmosphere of the meeting as "constructive," Connaughton said the participants have been focusing on how the U.S.-sponsored meeting can contribute to the climate change negotiations under the UN framework.

    The discussion took into account common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, he noted.

    Using political jargons, the official said the participants also discussed the "desirability" of a summit by participating countries in mid-2008.

    Among other things, the representatives welcomed Japan's hosting of a clean energy technology workshop in Chiba, Japan, in mid-March.

    They also agreed to consult on the MEM process at that time.

    France has offered to be the host of another MEM, Connaughton said.

    Known as the Major Economics Meeting on Energy Security and Climate Change, the Honolulu meeting serves as a follow-up to the first round of U.S.-hosted climate change talks among major economies last September in Washington.

    The idea of bringing together the world's major economies for climate change talks was initiated by U.S. President George W. Bush in May 2007, when the United States was under growing pressure to contribute more to solving the problem of greenhouse-gas emissions.

    Although the Bush administration repeatedly said the meeting is simply to supplement the UN efforts in battling climate change, there are suspicions that it is intended to sidetrack the UN climate talks and push forward its own agenda on the issue, which the U.S. government denies.