"The Kingdom has been actively participating in the talks aimed at reaching an agreement on climate change protecting the interests of all parties in a fair and balanced manner besides ensuring the sustainable economic growth of all countries," Petroleum and Minerals Resources Minister Ali Al-Naimi said at the 17th UN conference for an agreement on climate change currently meeting in the South African city of Durban.

Al-Naimi also stressed the need for the agreements being adopted at the conference to give positive indications to energy markets.

The agreements should also encourage investments to develop energy sources with emphasis on mutual approval between countries, he added.

Al-Naimi expressed hope that the conference would succeed in hammering out an agreement that would pave the way for the next stage of long-term policies on climate change.

The minister also urged the conference to make decisions with due consideration to the principles of joint responsibility and also in line with the Bali action plan on the issue.

He hoped the conference would reach agreements that were harmonious with previous agreements on carbon cuts and clean growth.

He also stressed the need for investment and transfer of technology to participating countries.

He said the Kingdom, with its declared goal of protecting the environment and continuing its role of being a safe source of energy, has been making an effort to use alternative techniques and adopt regulations to rationalize the use of energy and bring down emissions.

The minister cited the efforts of the King Abdullah University for Science and Technology in conducting research on solar energy and developing clean fuels.