The draft action plan for the coming global sustainable development summit, the Rio+20, remains unfinished as the final preparatory meeting wrapped up Friday evening.

After three days of negotiations, there is consensus only on 28 percent of the document, Nikhil Seth, head of the Rio+20 Secretariat, told reporters in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil before the closing of the final round negotiations.

Brazil will take on the coordination and shepherd the draft through informal consultations that began on Saturday. The formal high-level segment of the conference begins June 20.

Andre Luiz dos Santos from the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais protests everything from corruption and racism to environmental degradation on Friday near the entrance to RioCentro, where the Rio+20, or UN Conference on Sustainable Development, is being held in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro. [Photo by Chen Weihua/ China Daily]

The principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities" has become a sticking point for some developed countries and the European Union proposed to delete the terms in the draft document. "The bloc of the Group of 77 and China firmly request to reaffirm the principles stated in the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development," La Yijun, a representative of the Chinese delegation said on the sidelines of the meeting on Friday.

La urged all sides to adopt a sense of urgency and a spirit of compromise and flexibility.

Sustainable development has been highly valued by the Chinese government, he said, and the nation will continue to work to push forward the process.

The definition of "green economy" is another issue at the meeting. Green economy is a pathway to sustainable development, La said, but it must be considered in the context of poverty eradication and not as an excuse for trade protectionism.

Developed countries need to help developing countries establish green economies by providing funds, technology and market access, but their commitment has been weak, said La.

Luiz Alberto Figueiredo, Brazil's ambassador at the talks, said that with only days left before leaders convene, only essential issues will be discussed "so we can reach a text as soon as possible." The deadline for these consultations is June 19, but Figueiredo said Brazil intended to wrap up discussions earlier.

"The final negotiations have gone almost nowhere since they began on Tuesday. It is developing countries and the world's poorest people who have the most to lose from a weak outcome at Rio+20," said Stephen Hale, an official of Oxfam International, a non-governmental organization.

Brazil has achieved progress in addressing poverty and inequality at home, he said, urging Brazil to take the leadership to persuade countries to match the urgency of the challenge.

Contact the writer at lanlan@chinadaily.com.cn