Uzbekistan and China Sign Agreements to Combat Desertification

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — A delegation from the Forestry Agency under the National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan has signed a series of agreements at the international conference "China-Central Asia Cooperation in Combating Desertification," held in Yinchuan, China, aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in reforestation, sustainable land management, and the introduction of modern environmental technologies.

The first agreement was signed by Forestry Agency Director Erkin Mukhiddinov and Wu Xiaorui, head of the Forestry and Grassland Administration of China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

The document provides for the implementation of joint projects on expanding green cover, creating protective forest belts, developing modern nurseries and mother plantations, and introducing advanced approaches to sustainable forestry and green economy development.

The parties also agreed to cooperate on the rational use of water resources, the restoration of degraded land, the prevention of soil salinisation, and the strengthening of ecosystem resilience.

Particular attention during the talks was given to the effective implementation of joint projects, the engagement of specialist professionals, and the expansion of financing mechanisms for environmental initiatives.

A further significant outcome of the forum was the signing of an agreement between the Forestry Agency and Chinese company Yinchuan Wolsenn Modern Irrigation Co., Ltd. The document was signed by Forestry Agency Director Erkin Mukhiddinov and company board chairman Chen Lin.

Under the agreement, the Chinese side will supply Uzbekistan with modern water-saving irrigation technologies, including a demonstration fertigation system, and will organise training for Uzbek specialists in the effective use of the equipment. The value of the project is approximately 110,000 yuan.

It was noted that the introduction of modern technologies will improve the effectiveness of forest reclamation measures and strengthen anti-desertification efforts across the country's regions.

Fertigation is a modern technology that involves the simultaneous delivery of irrigation water and mineral fertilisers directly to the root systems of plants through a single integrated system. The method reduces fertiliser consumption by 20 to 50 percent, improves irrigation efficiency, and enables the automation of plant care processes.

The conference also featured presentations on the results of Uzbek-Chinese forestry and environmental projects already under way.

In 2025, halophyte gardens were established in the Arnasay, Karmana, Mubarek, Karakul, and Nukus districts as part of bilateral cooperation. To support the project, 1,400 tonnes of halophyte seeds were delivered from China to Uzbekistan, from which seedlings are currently being grown for further land greening.

Also continuing is a joint project between the Forestry Agency and Chinese company Sinoway Forest on the development of carbon-absorbing forestry and ecosystem restoration. Under the initiative, a 5,000-hectare pistachio forest is being established in Surkhandarya region.

The agreements signed represent a further practical step in the development of environmental cooperation between Uzbekistan and China, and will contribute to the introduction of modern technologies, the restoration of natural ecosystems, and more effective action against desertification.