China Daily:

In recent years, China has intensified efforts to prevent and control desertification, making sand prevention and control a major task. A number of significant ecological projects, such as the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program, have been implemented. Could you please introduce the progress China has made in terms of sand prevention and control? And what are the plans for future work? Thank you. 

Guan Zhiou:

Thank you. This year marks the 45th anniversary of the implementation of the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program. Through the unremitting efforts of several generations, and especially since the 18th CPC National Congress, the construction of the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program has achieved remarkable accomplishments. Under the program, China has planted 480 million mu of trees, and improved 500 million mu of sandified lands and 1.28 billion mu of degraded grasslands. Particularly in key areas, we have witnessed a historic transition from "sand forcing humans to retreat" to "trees forcing sand to retreat." Practice has proven that the decisions made by the CPC Central Committee on sand prevention and control, especially on implementing the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program, are correct and farsighted. China has embarked on a path of sand prevention and control with Chinese characteristics that is in line with the natural laws and its national conditions. 

On June 6 this year, General Secretary Xi Jinping made an important speech at a symposium on strengthening the comprehensive prevention and control of desertification and promoting the construction of key ecological projects, including the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program (TSFP). The symposium was held in the city of Bayannur, north China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region. He stressed that the TSFP is of great concern to our country's ecological security, the building of a great country, and the sustainable development of the Chinese nation. It is a major national strategy and a great accomplishment at the present time that will benefit future generations. He called on those involved to shoulder the mission with courage, determination and perseverance to create new miracles in China's fight against desertification in the new era. As the responsible department, we will keep in mind his entrustment, resolutely shoulder political responsibility for desertification prevention and control, and promote the construction of the TSFP. In this endeavor, we must build upon the progress made thus far. We must focus on crucial areas, uniting our efforts, and wholeheartedly engaging in the following three pivotal battles. 

The first battle entails tackling the formidable challenge of combating desertification in the areas near the meandering bends of the Yellow River. This project encompasses regions across five provinces: Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi, Gansu and Ningxia. It serves as a crucial ecological security barrier in the northern part of the country. We will focus on managing Maowusu, Kubuqi, Ulan Buh, and other desert areas. We will comprehensively implement systematic regional management practices for mountains, waters, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands, and harnessing deserts. Additionally, we will actively promote ecological photovoltaic desertification control measures to significantly reduce ecological hazards caused by factors such as sand and salinity. These efforts aim to provide ecological support for the high-quality development of economic circle near the meandering bends of the Yellow River.

The second battle is to combate desertification in the sand lands of Horqin and Hunshandake. The project area is spread across five provinces: Hebei, Inner Mongolia, Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang. It is the nearest source of sand to Beijing. We need to scientifically plan major ecological protection and restoration projects to achieve complete coverage of controllable desertified land in the region. This will involve steadily increasing the coverage of forests and grassland vegetation, thereby cutting off the source of sandstorms that affect the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. We aim to build a reliable ecological barrier that safeguards black soil and ensures food security.

The third battle is focused on battling desertification in the Hexi Corridor-Taklimakan Desert region. This project area spans four provinces: Inner Mongolia, Gansu, Qinghai, and Xinjiang, and is a region of continuous natural deserts in northwest China, connected to the Gobi. It is crucial to enhance the management of key sandy areas and cross-border sources of sandstorms, particularly by constructing wind-proof sand-fixing forests and grass belts along the periphery of oases and desert edges. This measure will prevent the expansion and spread of sand sources.

To undertake these three pivotal battles, we are collaborating with relevant provinces, regions, and departments to initiate and implement several vital projects for preventing and controlling desertification as soon as possible. We aim to establish a strong foundation, ensuring a good start for carrying out the TSFP in the new era. Thank you.