China's achievements in combating desertification drew widespread attention. From agricultural officials in the Sahel region of Africa to environmental scholars from Central Asian countries, they came seeking answers behind China's transformation from "sand advancing and people retreating" to "greenery expanding and sand receding."

Yasmine Fouad, executive secretary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, commented that China's persistent governance practices have set a learnable example for global desertification control.

Desertification is a global ecological challenge that affects humanity as a whole. According to UN  data, about 40 percent of the world's land has experienced varying degrees of degradation, impacting nearly half of the global population. The economic losses caused by land degradation, desertification and drought each year exceed 870 billion USD. The issue tests the governance wisdom and capabilities of all countries.

China is the first country to achieve zero growth in land degradation. Its desertified land and sandy desertified land areas have continued to decrease simultaneously. The forest coverage rate and forest stock volume have maintained double growth for 40 consecutive years, making an important contribution to the realization of the UN's 2030 goal of zero land degradation.

China has incorporated ecological protection and restoration into the overall national development strategy. It encourages residents in sandy areas to become active participants.

Desert warrior Yin Yuzhen turned the Maowusu sandy land, one of China's four largest desert area spanning parts of the north and northwest, into a green space, and the green commitment she made with retired U.S. teacher Ronald Sakolsky is a prime example of individual efforts to combat desertification. When Sakolsky returned to Maowusu in 2026, he said the results of sand control efforts could be seen and felt, and the land was recovering.

Today, China's experience in desert control is being utilized more and more widely. From assisting Mauritania in advancing Africa's Green Great Wall, to jointly building a desert control cooperation center with Central Asian countries, China shares its experience and provides support to countries in need, injecting impetus into the pursuit of green development for other developing countries.