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Consensus to build a green Belt and Road reached at Kubuqi Forum

china.org.cn / chinagate.cn, August 1, 2017 Adjust font size:

The sixth Kubuqi International Desert Forum kicks off in northern China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region on July 29, 2017.

The sixth Kubuqi International Desert Forum concluded Sunday in northern China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region. More than 250 delegates from home and abroad reached a consensus to emphasize ecological progress, environmental protection and ecological restoration during the implementation of the Belt and Road initiative.

The theme of this year’s forum was "Greening the Belt and Road, Sharing the desert eco-economy”. Participants included government officials, entrepreneurs, and experts from home and abroad. They gathered together to discuss cooperation in combating desertification along the Belt and Road routes, innovative eco technology, green finance, and poverty alleviation.

The forum is co-organized by the Ministry of Science and Technology, the State Forestry Administration, the People’s Government of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the United Nations Environment, and the Secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.

Chinese Vice Premier Ma Kai presents a congratulatory letter from President Xi Jinping to the forum at the opening ceremony.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Chinese Vice Premier Ma Kai said that China is willing to uphold the Silk Road spirit and work together with the international community to build a greener world and contribute to sustainable global development.

Ma Kai also presented a congratulatory letter from President Xi Jinping to the forum. Xi noted in his letter that desertification is a severe challenge facing the global community. He urged delegates to the meeting to pool their wisdom and contribute to building a green Belt and Road and improving the global ecological environment.

The participants also hailed the Kubuqi model as a paradigm for fundamental solutions to large scale projects in combating desertification. It was recommended that the Kubuqi model be promoted for wider application in the Belt and Road regions and other parts of the world.

Kubuqi is the seventh largest desert in China, covering an area of 18,600 square kilometers. It was formerly the source of frequent sandstorms affecting Beijing.

Over the past three decades, farmers and herdsmen in Kubuqi have planted Chinese medicinal herbs such as liquorice, to improve the soil, built photovoltaic power stations for electricity, and encouraged tourism.

These efforts have contributed to the greening of more than 6,000 square kilometers of the Kubuqi desert, as well as lifting 102,000 people out of poverty.