STORY: Chinese solution to desertification in BRI countries highlighted at forum in China's Xinjiang
DATELINE: June 12, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:41
LOCATION: URUMQI, China
CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the forum
2. various of grass in the desert
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): ZHANG YUANMING, Head of Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences
4. various of grass in the desert
5. various of the forum
6. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): ENDRIAS GETA, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Irrigation and Lowland Development, Ethiopia
7. various of the forum

STORYLINE:

Experts and officials attending a forum on desertification control in China's Xinjiang have said that the Chinese solution to desertification is helping advance green development in Belt and Road countries.

Over the years, China has made significant achievements in environmental protection. Meanwhile, it is ready to share its rich expertise with the world.

An expert from the Chinese Academy of Sciences said his institute has been actively promoting international cooperation and working to ensure that the Chinese solution benefits more countries.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): ZHANG YUANMING, Head of Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences
"Our primary goal is to strengthen the scientific and technological exchanges and project cooperation with our international partners. We have rich experience and practical solutions in sand control in arid areas in Xinjiang. We are working to put the solutions to wider application in Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries, especially in the arid areas of Central Asia and Africa."

China has dispatched teams of ecologists to help the Great Green Wall -- an African afforestation campaign -- replicate China's achievement in the Taklimakan Desert to the Sahara.

An official from Ethiopia said his country has benefited a lot from the initiative.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): ENDRIAS GETA, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Irrigation and Lowland Development, Ethiopia
"China has huge experience in combating desertification. The Great Green Wall initiative has been working in Africa for many years. Ethiopia is part of that initiative and we have benefited a lot (from it). Millions of hectares of land have been rehabilitated with the Chinese government's support."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Urumqi, China.
(XHTV)