China
11:23, 11-Sep-2017
Belt and Road countries in joint fight against desertification
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Countries along the Belt and Road routes launched a cooperative framework on Sunday, aiming to reverse and prevent the effects of desertification.
The framework was set up on the sidelines of the thirteenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP13) at the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
The framework will help members cooperate on financing, sharing information, training, and joint learning from example projects, said Zhang Jianlong, head of China's State Forestry Administration.
Zhang said the effort will contribute to the remission of land degradation and work towards the UN Agenda 2030 for sustainable development.
Another forestry official, Pan Yingzhen, said the framework can raise funds by setting up public equity funds, donations and public-private-partnerships, among others.
Last year, China and the UNCCD launched a joint action initiative to combat desertification and rehabilitate degraded land along the Belt and Road route. The initiative spans Eurasia linking China, Middle East, Europe, Africa via the ancient Silk Road routes.
Source(s): Xinhua News Agency