Munich, Germany - February 16, 2025 China's vital contributions to global governance and its leadership in environmental restoration efforts have been hailed by officials at the just-concluded 61st Munich Security Conference. The three-day conference closed on Sunday after gathering 60 heads of state and government, 150 ministers from around the world, and numerous representatives of leading international organizations. In an interview following the conclusion of a panel discussion themed on "Land Restoration and Security", Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir, Saudi Arabia's minister of state for foreign affairs and climate envoy, described China as a key global player, and stressed that dialogue and collaboration with the country are essential to addressing global challenges. Andrea Meza Murillo, deputy executive secretary of United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), praised China's efforts in combating desertification, citing its successful projects in the Kubuqi Desert, the country's seventh-largest desert which is also known as Hobq Desert. She said China has proven to be a global leader in sustainable land management (SLM) practices, with its high-tech solutions which engage with local communities at the ground level-up helping to successfully restore degraded land. Shotlist: Munich, Germany - Feb 16, 2025: 1. Various of Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir, Saudi Arabia's minister of state for foreign affairs and climate envoy, speaking at panel; 2. Panel in progress; 3. SOUNDBITE (English) Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir, Saudi Arabia's minister of state for foreign affairs and climate envoy: "I believe that China plays a very important role in global affairs and [with] China it's important to consult and discuss and exchange views. And I believe it's also important for people to engage with China. It's an important player in the global economic system. It's an important player in the United Nations system and anytime you have a dialogue and exchange of ideas, it can only be beneficial."; 4. Various of panel in progress; 5. SOUNDBITE (English) Andrea Meza Murillo, deputy executive secretary of United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD): "China is really one of the country leaders in the efforts of restoration. What we're seeing, it's unbelievable. I had the opportunity to be at the Kubuqi Desert and I was amazed to see all this restoration process taking place, combating desertification, bringing and connecting high technology, but also as we were hearing from here, sometimes some of the investments that we need to do, engaging [the] local population and local communities, sometimes are not so expensive. So I think that what we are seeing in terms of some of the sustainable land management practices and what to do to combat the desertification and restore our land, I will say that what China is doing is amazing. It's one of the countries who is leading, [it has] a lot of know-how, a lot of concrete examples on the ground. And I will say that this effort as well of doing more cooperation globally."; 6. Exterior of Hotel Bayerischer Hof, venue for 61st Munich Security Conference; FILE: Beijing, China - Date Unknown 7. Aerial shots of Chinese national flags, Tian'anmen Rostrum; FILE: Shanghai, China - Date Unknown 8. Aerial shots of solar panels; FILE: Zhanjiang City, Guangdong Province, south China - 2023 9. Aerial shots of mangrove forests. [Restriction - No access Chinese mainland]