On July 1, 2026, a delegation of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Secretariat led by Deputy Secretary-General Sohail Khan participated in the International Symposium themed “Strengthening Combating Desertification and Promoting the Transition to a Green Economy” in Yinchuan, China. The event was organized by the Boao Forum for Asia Secretariat in collaboration with the National Forestry and Grassland Administration of China and the People’s Government of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.
In his address Sohail Khan noted the efforts of SCO member states in combating land degradation, emphasizing that desertification negatively affects food security, biodiversity conservation, and human health, and also contributes to the increase in dust and sandstorms.
The Deputy Secretary-General noted that implementing effective policies to combat desertification is a condition for achieving a number of Sustainable Development Goals aimed at preserving terrestrial ecosystems, eradicating hunger, ensuring access to clean water and sanitation, and combating climate change.
Li Yifei, Secretary of the Communist Party of China Committee of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, expressed readiness to share the region’s experience in combating desertification and land degradation with SCO member states.
Participants of the International Symposium exchanged experiences and best practices in relevant fields, and discussed the preparations for the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, scheduled to be held in August 2026 in Mongolia.