China's outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) places consolidating and expanding the ecological security barrier in a prominent position, with a focus on advancing desertification control through the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program (TSFP) -- the world's largest afforestation project.
The new five-year outline, approved by Chinese lawmakers on Thursday, calls for comprehensively advancing the three landmark projects of the national shelterbelt program in northeast, north and northwest China.
The three projects refer to the goal that by 2030, the country aims to achieve significant desertification control results through the TSFP in three regions: the Hexi Corridor-Taklimakan Desert region, the two sandy lands of Horqin and Hunshandake, and the areas near the meandering bends of the Yellow River.
To track progress, the outline establishes concrete environmental benchmarks for the TSFP zone by the end of the decade: forest and grassland coverage is targeted to reach 40.9 percent, 67 percent of treatable sandy land is to be brought under control, and the comprehensive vegetation coverage of sandy areas is expected to hit 22 percent.
Zhang Huaiqing, chief scientist of the Chinese Academy of Forestry, emphasized the need to adopt a more scientific approach to desertification control.
"As the TSFP enters a critical phase in its all-out campaign to tackle the toughest challenges, the philosophy behind science-based desertification control has evolved -- from simply enhancing vegetation coverage to promoting comprehensive ecological restoration across affected areas. We are now utilizing technologies including remote sensing, artificial intelligence, and big data to make our efforts more precise and efficient. Sci-tech empowerment is helping us consolidate this 'Green Great Wall' in north China," he said.
China to extend "green wall" in battle against desertification
China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao outlined the key priorities of the 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting, which opened on Friday in Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu province.
In an interview with CGTN ahead of the two-day meeting, Wang said free trade, digital cooperation and green economy are high on the agenda of the meeting.
"The key areas include advancing regional economic integration and the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific, supporting the World Trade Organization (WTO) in strengthening digital cooperation and developing green economy. At present, the international situation is marked by intertwined turbulence and chaos, with intensified geopolitical instability. The rise of unilateralism and protectionism poses serious challenges to the international economic and trade order, disrupting global and Asia-Pacific development. Against this backdrop, all parties have higher expectations for this trade ministers' meeting, hoping that it can build consensus and deliver outcomes," Wang said.
This year marks China's third time hosting the APEC meetings and the 35th anniversary of its membership.
By 2025, China had become the largest trading partner of 13 APEC economies. Trade between China and APEC economies reached 3.7 trillion U.S. dollars, accounting for 57.8 percent of China's total foreign trade.
China has signed 24 free trade agreements or economic and trade arrangements with 31 countries and regions, including 15 APEC economies. In recent years, China has also completed upgrades of free trade agreements with APEC economies such as Singapore and Peru.
The minister said that China has always been a firm supporter and an important contributor to APEC.
"We have actively shared our vast market and development opportunities with all parties. China's door to the world will only open wider and wider. Facing the common challenges, China will continue to fulfill its responsibilities as a major country, further deepen reform, expand high-standard opening-up, and continue to provide new opportunities for the Asia-Pacific region and the world with its new achievements in Chinese modernization," the minister said.
China's Commerce Minister outlines priorities for 32nd APEC trade ministers' meeting
