China and Central Asia expand cooperation to turn arid lands into green oases

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun announced that China and Central Asian nations are intensifying joint actions to address ecological degradation, particularly the ongoing environmental crisis surrounding the Aral Sea. This is reported by CGTN, a partner of TV BRICS.

Once one of the world's largest inland lakes, the Aral Sea has shrunk dramatically. The two sides have pursued in-depth scientific collaboration, improved saline-alkali land management, and established demonstration zones for sustainable agriculture, including water-efficient cotton farming. According to the source, these efforts have been positively received by local communities and contribute to broader environmental resilience in the region.

Domestically, China has made notable progress in reclaiming desertified land. Since 2012, more than 24 million hectares of sandy and degraded areas have been restored, and nearly 1.9 million hectares are now under active protection. National data also indicate that between 2000 and 2019, wind erosion in major deserts and sandy regions decreased by approximately 40 per cent, making China the first country to achieve zero net land degradation, experts claimed.

With desertification continuing to threaten livelihoods and ecosystems worldwide, China’s expanding partnership with its Central Asian neighbours offers a replicable model of sustainable development driven by science, solidarity and long-term commitment.

Photo: iStock