China's decades-long efforts to combat desertification are drawing international attention at the COP17 gathering in Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar.

China is the first country to achieve zero net land degradation.

Over the past five years, China has completed 36-point-6 million hectares of afforestation, with forest coverage now exceeding 25 percent.

At COP17, international experts have highlighted China's long-term approach as a valuable reference for developing countries.

One example is the country's management of the Taklamakan Desert.

The Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography is sharing field-tested green technologies and offering practical solutions for other countries facing land degradation.

BARRON JOSEPH ORR, Chief Scientist for the UNCCD: "And there's nothing better than China as that foundation, because legislation in China is actually mimicking Land Degradation Neutrality years before Land Degradation Neutrality was even conceived of. So it's much easier in a country like China to embrace a holistic approach, where we really consider the balance and we navigate the trade-offs of economic, social, and environmental interest and needs at the same time."

ANDREA MEZA MURILLO, Deputy Executive Secretary of the UNCCD: "I'm very impressed as well of what China has achieved in terms of land degradation neutrality, in terms of combating desertification, in terms of soil health, bold leadership with the right vision. And this requires, as well, long term planning and long term vision. As a civilization of thousands of years, they know that long term, this is a play of a long term issue."

DUAN WEILI, Deputy Director, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, CAS: "At COP17, we are promoting our institute's successful desertification control practices and case studies from Xinjiang, Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Examples include the Taklamakan Desert Green Belt Project and the Taklamakan Desert Highway. We hope to share this expertise globally." (CGTN)