Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang recites a congratulatory letter from Chinese President Xi Jinping and delivers a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of a high-level meeting of the 13th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP13) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Ordos City, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Spet. 11, 2017. (Xinhua/Deng Hua)
Vice Premier Wang Yang, who read the letter and delivered a keynote speech at the meeting's opening ceremony, said that in fighting desertification, China will ensure closer communication and cooperation with the international community and strive to develop a path of desertification control with Chinese characteristics, which combines fighting desertification with improving people's livelihood.
About 1,400 delegates from 196 parties and more than 20 international organizations attended the biennial conference. Opening on Sept. 6, the conference will last about two weeks.
