Nation aids joint desertification fight

China will continue to boost cooperation in prevention and control of desertification with other nations, especially with those involved in the Belt and Road, through sharing technology, facilities and professional training, a senior official said on Tuesday.

Beijing is encouraging the application of the secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification for project funding from the China South-South Cooperation Fund, according to Zhang Jianlong, head of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration.

The project aims to prevent and control desertification and its negative effects, such as severe sandstorms that cause problems along transportation arteries in eight countries in Central Asia and Africa, Zhang said.