China remains committed to providing its solutions for global desertification control, aiming to turn more deserts into oases, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a press briefing in Beijing on Tuesday.
Lin made the remarks in response to a question about China's role in global desertification governance, as the 17th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) kicked off on Monday in Ulan Bator, capital of Mongolia, under the theme "Restoring Land, Restoring Hope."
"Desertification prevention and control is an endeavor bearing on the sustainable future of humanity. As a party to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), China has earnestly fulfilled its obligations under the Convention and actively advanced international cooperation on desertification control. China advocates that clear waters and green mountains are as valuable as gold and silver. China is the first country in the world to achieve zero net land degradation and reduce both desertification and sandification. China's forest coverage ratio and forest stock volume have both increased for 40 consecutive years, making important contribution to meeting the global goal of zero net land degradation by 2030. The Secretariat of the UNCCD honored China for its 'outstanding contribution to combating desertification,' praising its significant contributions to global desertification control," said Lin.
"China has actively participated in and fully supported the UN's desertification control effort, sharing its experience in sand prevention and control with the world, promoting technology application, and training professionals, thus injecting strong impetus into green development in the Global South. During this Conference, China will set up a 'China Corner' showcasing China's efforts in desertification control and will hold multiple side events to exchange ideas, technologies, and practices with all parties," he said.
"Going forward, China will remain committed to providing China's solution for global desertification control, deepen ecological and environmental cooperation with all sides, jointly advance the Convention process, and work for more miracles of turning deserts into oases," the spokesman said.
China reaffirms commitment to global desertification control
