PM to attend Copenhagen summit on climate change

Prime minister Manmohan Singh will attend the Copenhagen summit on climate change on December 18, reflecting the seriousness attached by India to the meet where it is expected to play a crucial role.

Singh will undertake a two-day visit from December 17, the prime minister's Office said today. The decision of the prime minister to attend the summit comes against the backdrop of insistence by world leaders, including US president Barack Obama and French president Nicolas Sarkozy, that he should be there.

Earlier, India had decided that it will be represented by environment minister Jairam Ramesh at the meeting. Singh, during his meeting with Obama last week, was asked by the US president to attend the Summit. Subsequently, when Sarkozy met Singh in Port of Spain, he also requested him to join him at Copenhagen.

The French president later told a press conference, "If India is to be heard, it needs to be present", apparently referring to the need for Singh's presence.

Some 80 presidents and prime ministers are expected to attend the two-day Summit on December 17-18. Obama might drop-by at the Copenhagen conference on December 9 on his way to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway, and announce a US offer on financing.