The Ninth Kubuqi International Desert Forum

Excellencies,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is an honour to join you at the Ninth Kubuqi International Desert Forum (KIDF), a platform dedicated to ecological restoration, international cooperation, and sustainable development.

It is clear that humanity is waging war on nature. With up to 40 per cent of the world’s land currently degraded, this sobering reality now reverberates across nations and ecosystems, undermining the well-being of nearly half of the world’s population. The ramifications deeply affect our societies, economies, environments, and climate, while trends continue to worsen. Between 2015 and 2019, an area of healthy and productive land equivalent to twice the size of Greenland was lost.

This should serve as a call for urgent action to make peace with nature.

That is why we are pleased that China, under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, has demonstrated a strong commitment to environmental sustainability and has made progress in combatting desertification, as seen in the unique example of Kubuqi. The Kubuqi model further offers a valuable solution for afforestation, combating desertification and is a contribution to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Earlier this year, I accompanied the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), Amina J. Mohammed, on a visit to Kubuqi. Here she commended China for its efforts to reduce desertification, sandstorms and improve people’s livelihoods by greening the area with forests and other vegetation.

I am amazed by the power of innovation, commitment, and technological advancement, having personally witnessed this remarkable afforestation project, which transformed the arid landscapes of Kubuqi into a bastion of renewable energy and thriving ecosystems.

But the Kubuqi project can serve as more than a local triumph. It embodies the spirit of partnership and the transformative potential of sustainable development. Here, China’s pledge to collaborate with other countries and support their own actions in green development and global environmental governance can further underscore its dedication.

Kubuqi also demonstrates a great model of public private and people partnerships. The transformation of this arid desert landscape into a lush green environment is a testimony to how the convergence of big data, technology and innovation can transform lives and livelihoods. I wish to take this opportunity to commend Wang Wenbiao, Chairman of Elion Resources Group, who has spent most of his life fighting this great scourge to humanity.

Mr Wang received a UN Champions of the Earth award in 2017 for a lifetime of leadership in green industries.

The UN, through the participation of the UN Environment Programme and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, has been actively engaged with the Kubuqi International Desert Forum over the past decade. The “3+2” organizing mechanism exemplifies this collaborative effort between the Government of China and UN entities, fostering an environment of shared knowledge and expertise.

The UN in China stands ready to support the Government of China in its international cooperation efforts and the development of new partnerships to accelerate ecological restoration and sustainable development. For example, through the UN-China-Africa Transformative Partnership Initiative, we hope to better support countries in the Horn of Africa in responding to the devasting drought.

Here, China’s Global Development Initiative has great potential and the UN in China will work with the Government of China, and offer our technical expertise to ensure alignment with the SDGs.

As we gather here today, on the cusp of a pivotal moment to change course and save our planet, let us seize this opportunity to forge stronger partnerships and redouble our efforts in environmental conservation in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

On this journey, let us heed the words of the UN Deputy Secretary-General, who said, “Land degradation is not inevitable. We have the tools and knowledge to reverse it.”

Let us embrace the challenges ahead, knowing that by working together, we can create a healthier and more resilient environment for future generations.

Thank you.