Officials from BRI countries attend seminar on desertification, sandstorm control in Beijing

More than 30 senior officials from five countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) attended a seminar on the commitment of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and sandstorm prevention and control in Beijing.

Senior officials attending the seminar pose for a group photo in Beijing on Oct 25. [Photo provided by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration of China]

The 21-day seminar, which opened on Oct 25, is hosted by the Chinese government. It will include lectures, cultural visits, symposiums and other activities, such as field surveys in Yinchuan, Wuzhong, Zhongwei in Northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region.

Officials from the five countries - Iran, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Sri Lanka and Malaysia - will learn about China's anti-desertification efforts, as well as its technology and experience in the field through the seminar.

According to an official from China's National Forestry and Grassland Administration, over the years, China has been actively promoting international cooperation and sharing its technology and experience of desertification prevention while focusing on its own desertification control.

China has supported the construction of the Great Green Wall of Africa with technology, and launched a group of research and cooperation centers with Arab states and Mongolia, so as to promote bilateral and multilateral cooperation in desertification control, the official noted.

China has also been actively fulfilling its duties as a signing party to the UNCCD, supported Northeast Asia in its fight against drought, desertification and land degradation, and also set up training and knowledge management centers with the secretariat of the UNCCD to cultivate more professionals, the official added.

Chandima Palamakumbura, a senior official from the forestry administration of Sri Lanka, expressed his gratitude to China for offering such an opportunity that enables attendees from different countries to communicate.

Sri Lanka has conducted close cooperation with China in the field and achieved fruitful results under the BRI framework, he noted, adding that he expects to learn more through the seminar.

Daniel Worku from Ethiopia also lauded China's financial and technical support to Africa in the construction of the Great Green Wall of Africa, as well as China-Africa cooperation in desertification prevention and control and the sustainable development of forests.