China to offer solutions for global desertification prevention, control: spokeswoman

China is ready to offer its solutions for global desertification prevention and control, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning at a regular press conference in Beijing on Friday.

Mao made the remarks in response to a question about China's achievements in desertification control and its contributions to the world.

China is the first country in the world to achieve zero net growth in land degradation and reduce both desertification and sandification, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration announced on Monday.

"China is among the countries that suffer most from desertification. The Chinese government attaches great importance to this issue, and has steadily advanced the comprehensive prevention and control of desertification and major ecological conservation projects, such as the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program. We have put 53 percent of treatable sandy land under effective treatment, realized a virtuous cycle of ecological conservation and improvement of people's life, and contributed to the global effort to combat sandification. This year marks the 30th anniversary of China signing the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). Over the past three decades, China has taken active effort to implement the convention, carried out international cooperation on combating sandification, and explored mechanisms under Belt and Road cooperation to prevent and control desertification. China has also shared relevant technology and experience and provided training to Central Asian and African countries, which also face the problem of desertification, injecting impetus to the joint pursuit of the Global South for green development," said Mao.

"Next week, the 16th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) will take place in Saudi Arabia. China will send a delegation to the conference and offer China's solutions for global desertification prevention and control. We will join hand with all parties to make Planet Earth greener," said Mao.

China to offer solutions for global desertification prevention, control: spokeswoman

The remains of 43 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) soldiers killed in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were buried Friday in a cemetery in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province.

The remains of the fallen soldiers were returned to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Thursday. It was the 11th such repatriation since 2014, following a handover agreement signed between the two countries.

The burial ceremony began at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang at 10:00 as a military band began to play, and the guard of honor carrying the caskets of the fallen martyrs entered the cemetery.

All attendees bowed three times to the CPV martyrs, and 27 ceremonial guards fired 12 shots, paying the highest respect to the heroes.

The guards then lifted the caskets of the martyrs and circled the square for half a lap, slowly walking toward the burial site.

The remains of 981 CPV soldiers have been repatriated and buried in the cemetery since 2014.

The ceremony was attended by CPV veterans, members of the martyrs' families and representatives from all walks of life.

"This is a very solemn and reverent experience. To witness the martyrs, who bravely gave their lives in a foreign land, being brought back to the embrace of the motherland was a profound uplift to my patriotic feelings. We should carry forward their spirit, work hard to improve ourselves, and contribute our modest efforts to society in the future," said Chang Pei-han, a student from Hong Kong Pui Kiu Middle School.

"These young CPV soldiers fought bravely against the enemy in the freezing cold and snow 74 years ago. Today as the country enjoys peace and stability, they, draped with the national flag, return home. We must forever honor their sacrifices and dedication, carry forward the spirit of these heroes, and draw strength from their example to continue forging ahead," said Qiu Yu, Shenyang resident.

During the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea, a total of 2.9 million CPV soldiers fought on the battlefield, with more than 360,000 killed or injured.

Remains of CPV martyrs returned from ROK buried in Shenyang