Spanish Ambassador to China Rafael Dezcallar (left) and Senegalese Ambassador to China Ibrahima Sory Sylla Photo: Courtesy of the Spanish Embassy in China

With the aim to find solutions to increase resilience against droughts and examine collaborations with both China and international community, the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA) seminar was held at the United Nations Compound in Beijing on November 30. 

The seminar was co-organized by the Embassy of Spain and the Embassy of Senegal. Spanish Ambassador to China Rafael Dezcallar, Senegalese Ambassador to China Ibrahima Sory Sylla, representatives from the United Nations in China, and the Ministry of Water Resources of China and National Forestry and Grassland Administration all participated in the seminar.

The seminar discussed the impact of drought in a large number of countries and provided more information about the IDRA initiative that was co-founded by Senegal and Spain. This initiative seeks to boost political momentum and accelerate action in building drought resilience, in coordination with the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). 

So far, more than 30 countries and 20 international organizations have expressed their support for the initiative. The leading role that Senegal is taking in the active participation of Africa in global initiatives, said Ambassador Dezcallar. 

Spain assumed the rotating presidency of the EU Council in July, and the ecological transition and environmental adaptation is one of the country's top priorities. IDRA is a good example of Spain's commitment to those goals. And the IDRA initiative wants to go beyond conventional divisions and mobilize global support to combat droughts.

Ambassador Dezcallar commended China's project in the fight against desertification while noting that "China was one of the first countries to support the IDRA." He added that "one of the objectives of this seminar is to examine possible models of collaboration between China and the IDRA."

Guests from the United Nations in China also noted that strengthening cooperation between China, Africa, and other international communities will build drought resilience globally, as the IDRA provides a platform to share experiences and best practices to increase drought preparedness and impact mitigation.