China, Central Asia boost desertification measures

The China-Central Asia Cooperation Center for Desertification Prevention has launched a coordinated ecological offensive across Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, deploying advanced Ningxia-developed technologies to stabilize regional soil and water resources.

The move follows an assessment mission concluded in December, which identified critical ecological pain points across the four Central Asian countries.

The mission identified areas where the Ningxia Hui autonomous region and nearby "dust bowl" zones can collaborate, with the aim of tackling region-specific challenges such as soil salinization, erosion and water management, while building long-term partnerships for ecological security.

It found that Uzbekistan is hindered by salinization and a lack of irrigation technologies and water conservancy facilities, while mountainous Tajikistan is focused more on soil erosion prevention, pest control and wildfire prevention.

"The four countries highly appreciate China's achievements in preventing and controlling desertification, soil erosion and salinization, and they expressed a strong desire for cooperation," said Feng Zhanwen, director of the center.

China's assistance will involve deploying experts and homegrown ecological monitoring systems, as well as providing training courses that integrate proven strategies from Ningxia's own transformation.

Feng said that China's experience with desertification prevention and control is of universal value and the center's mission is to share that wisdom and experience with the world.

With six demonstration bases for technology transfer and project implementation, the center serves as an important platform. After a Jan 8 meeting in Yinchuan between Chinese experts and a four-member delegation from his country, Farhod Arziev, Uzbekistan's ambassador to China, said local cooperation is an important part of the China-Uzbekistan relationship.

"We are willing to learn from Ningxia's experience in poverty reduction, desertification control, water-saving agriculture and tourism development, and we will continuously promote economic and trade investment, industrial cooperation, talent co-cultivation and cultural exchanges between the two sides to better benefit the people of both regions," the ambassador said.

Liu Jun, vice-chairperson of the Ningxia government, said that desertification is a pressing global challenge. "Both Uzbekistan and Ningxia have suffered from sandstorms and share common expectations to rebuild their green homeland. This shared experience is the most solid foundation for the cooperation between the two sides," she said.

Liu said Ningxia plans to export mature technologies, including multilayered windbreak systems and photovoltaic-powered groundwater desalination to Central Asia.

"Through jointly building laboratories, conducting technical training and promoting mutual talent visits, we will work with Uzbekistan to build a solid regional ecological security barrier," Liu said.

Qi Zichen contributed to this story.

Contact the writers at wangsongsong@chinadaily.com.cn