The High Level Segment of the 13th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is held in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, on Sept 11, 2017. [Photo by Zou Hong/China Daily]

The high-level segment of the 13th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was held in Ordos, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on Sept 11.

Vice-Premier Wang Yang attended the conference and delivered the congratulatory letter sent by President Xi Jinping. In the letter, Xi affirmed the Chinese government's strong determination to fulfil the UNCCD and contribute to the reduction of global desertification.

The vice-premier said desertification is a serious problem that all human beings are facing and that no country could win the battle against desertification by itself. Wang also said the battle required more enhanced international cooperation and communications for a successful outcome. Wang said China has been a pioneer in desertification combat, as one of the developing countries that has suffered from the serious problem.

Chinese Vice-Premier Wang Yang (right) and Executive Secretary of UNCCD Monique Barbut (second from left) attend the opening ceremony of the High Level Segment, Ordos, Inner Mongolia, on Sept 11, 2017. [Photo by Zou Hong/China Daily]

The vice-premier surveyed China's achievements handling desertification and eliminating poverty. He said people in Inner Mongolia are not only replacing sand and desert with grass and trees, but also developing a series of eco-friendly industries to help eliminate poverty.

"Inner Mongolia is an outstanding example of desertification combat in China. The history of the province is also a record of combating desertification,"Wang said.

At the conference, Monique Barbut, executive secretary of UNCCD, said the Belt and Road cooperative mechanism — launched on Sept 10 — would aid in the realization of the conference's goals.

About 300 people from 20 countries, international organizations and NGOs attended the conference. A series of representatives expressed commitment to the UNCCD and a willingness to partake in more international cooperation and share more information within the framework of the conference.

A representative from Civil Society, an NGO, said gender equality, especially women's access to land, should have more importance. This emphasis, she said, would greatly help the anti-desertification efforts.

(Source: By Li Hongrui | chinadaily.com.cn | 2017-09-11 )