The Ninth Kubuqi International Desert Forum kicked off in the Kubuqi Desert Elion Ecological Demonstration Zone in the city of Ordos in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region on Aug 26.

The forum, entitled "Technology-Empowered Desert Control for the Benefit of Mankind", has seen the participation of more than 300 political and business figures, experts, and scholars from over 20 countries.

This year's forum will last for two days and feature four themed forums on desert biodiversity conservation and sustainable resource utilization, sandstorm prevention and scientific desertification control, integrated management of mountains, waters, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasses, and sand, as well as promoting land restoration through knowledge and technology.

By sharing and exchanging the latest achievements in global desertification control technologies and models, the forum aims to promote technological innovation that contributes to desertification control and advance the achievement of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

During the opening ceremony, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration and the Secretariat of the League of Arab States signed the Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of the China-Arab International Research Center for Drought, Desertification and Land Degradation.