China, Arab nations sign deal to establish center to fight desertification

By Necva Tastan

ISTANBUL (AA) - China and Arab nations have signed a deal to establish an international research center to fight drought, desertification and land degradation, Chinese media reported on Monday.

The memorandum of understanding was inked at the Kubuqi International Desert Forum held in Ordos, Inner Mongolia autonomous region on Saturday.

China's National Forestry and Grassland Administration and the Secretariat of the League of Arab States launched a plan to plant 10 billion trees in Saudi Arabia and initiate an eco-solar desert control project, Beijing-based China Daily reported.

Wan Gang, chair of the China Association for Science and Technology, stressed the need for increased global consensus to prevent desertification.

"It is urgent to control desertification through joint efforts by countries and regions, and it has been proved that deserts are not forbidden areas for life. They can be managed and transformed into valuable resources for sustainable human development," Wang said.

Li Hongzhong, who is part of the Chinese Communist Party's central policy making committee, said Beijing is committed to achieving top-notch development in desertification control.

By 2030, China will achieve its target of greening 67% of its deserts, with the aim of achieving full greening of these areas by 2050, he said.