UNCCD Deputy Executive Secretary Andrea Meza Murillo speaks at the opening ceremony of the China Pavilion at the COP16 to the UNCCD in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on December 2, 2024. Photo: Xinhua

China showcased its experiences from decades of efforts and achievements in combating desertification as the China Pavilion at the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) officially opened on Monday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 

COP16, held from Monday to December 13 under the theme "Our Land. Our Future," is the largest UN land-focused conference to date and the first UNCCD COP in the Middle East and North Africa, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Covering more than 600 square meters, the China Pavilion is the second-largest national pavilion at the event. Its exhibition, themed "Cross-Century Green Great Wall, China's Restoration in Action," showcases the nation's battle against desertification, particularly through the Three-North Shelter Forest Program, a major national initiative aimed at reversing land desertification, according to Xinhua.

UNCCD Deputy Executive Secretary Andrea Meza Murillo praised China's significant contributions to global desertification control at the opening ceremony. She also emphasized that effective policies, community and local government involvement, as well as innovation and technology, are key components of China's success, as reported by Xinhua.

Guan Zhi'ou, head of the Chinese delegation and administrator of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, remarked, "For 30 years since joining the convention, China has diligently fulfilled its responsibilities, actively participating in global desertification control alongside countries in the Belt and Road Initiative." 

"China will continue to share technologies and experiences, contributing wisdom and strength toward achieving the 2030 global land degradation neutrality target and advancing the G20 global land initiative," he added, as reported by Xinhua.

Desertification is currently a widespread issue in many parts of the world. As the global population continues to grow, the pressure on land resources intensifies. Additionally, climate change is affecting water availability in certain areas, further contributing to the trend of increasing desertification in those regions, Ma Jun, director of the Beijing-based Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

In this context, the sharing of China's experience could greatly benefit many countries, especially for Global South countries, in addressing these challenges, and it would also have a positive impact on local social and economic development and contribute to global environmental protection, Ma said.

China has accumulated substantial experience in combating desertification over the years, including afforestation efforts to curb desertification and reverse the trend of "sand forcing humans to retreat," Ma said.

During the construction of shelter forests, China initially faced some challenges, including reliance on single tree species and the use of species that were unsuitable for the local ecological conditions in certain regions, Ma noted. However, by reflecting on these experiences, valuable solutions were identified, resulting in practices tailored to local conditions that effectively combat desertification.

Ma also noted that the development of techniques for combating desertification, which have been accumulated through exploration and practice, can also be integrated with the local green industries.

According to Xinhua, Chinese Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Chang Hua, in his address, also highlighted the growing cooperation between China and Saudi Arabia in combating desertification, particularly in support of the Kingdom's Saudi and Middle East Green Initiatives, as well as the development of renewable energy in the region.