Former Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg praised China's policy measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
In an interview carried by Norwegian-language newspaper DN on Tuesday, Stoltenberg said that he was impressed with China's practice of using market forces to combat climate warming.
Ever since he was appointed a UN special envoy on climate change in December, he has been meeting officials from a number of countries to discuss how to tackle the issue better.
Stoltenberg, who is also a member of the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate Change, said that China is one of the countries that made him optimistic on the climate front.
China is leading in using the market to reduce emissions, said the former Norwegian prime minister, who is soon to take over the post of NATO secretary general.
China has already implemented pilot projects for pricing CO2 emissions and the introduction of a nationwide system of carbon pricing is the next step China is ready to take, Stoltenberg said.
It is "not because I do not see that emissions are growing (in China), but some of the (Chinese) managers have insight, understanding and decision-making power that impresses me," said Stoltenberg, one week before the 2014 UN climate summit slated for Sept. 23 in New York.
Stoltenberg said that he experienced "a strong support and a very correct and impressive thinking" when he met with officials from the Chinese Finance Ministry.
"They see the importance of using the market to combat pollution," he said.