RIYADH, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia is strengthening cooperation with China in combating desertification and expanding vegetation cover, drawing on China's decades-long experience as the kingdom advances its ambitious environmental goals under the Saudi Green Initiative, a Saudi official has said.

Ahmed AlAnazi, general manager of the National Greening Program, told Xinhua in a recent interview that Saudi Arabia's rehabilitation of its first 1 million hectares of degraded land was the result of long-term strategic planning, drawing on international experience, particularly that of China, as well as lessons from countries such as Pakistan, Ethiopia, Mexico and Trkiye.

AlAnazi said the kingdom has benefited significantly from China's decades of experience, particularly in understanding sand encroachment dynamics and approaches to rehabilitating arid land.

"China has provided a practical example of how desert areas can be transformed into productive environments through scientific planning and phased implementation," he noted.

AlAnazi said environmental cooperation between Saudi Arabia and China has witnessed notable progress, with memorandums of understanding signed with Chinese research institutions specializing in desertification control.

"The two sides have also carried out joint training programs and workshops and exchanged expertise in areas including vegetation monitoring, seed banks and soil improvement technologies," he added.

According to the official, cooperation between the two countries is extending beyond conventional knowledge exchange to the application of modern technologies, including advanced satellite technologies and artificial intelligence.

Saudi Arabia faces significant environmental challenges, particularly water scarcity and limited rainfall, which make land rehabilitation more complex than in many other countries.

To address these challenges, the kingdom is taking a series of measures to restore degraded land and expand its green cover.

Under the Saudi Green Initiative, the kingdom earlier announced that it had rehabilitated its first 1 million hectares of degraded land and planted more than 159 million trees, as part of its long-term goal of planting 10 billion trees.

"The integration of scientific planning, lessons from international experience and local community participation provides a strong foundation for the success of the kingdom's ambitious environmental efforts," AlAnazi said, noting that the kingdom has mobilized more than 100,000 volunteers for tree-planting campaigns.

Over the past several decades, China has also made significant strides in combating desertification. AlAnazi said China's experience offers hope that tangible results can be achieved.

"China's achievements over the decades demonstrate that desert areas can be transformed into greener environments through science, perseverance and community participation," he stressed.

Looking ahead, AlAnazi said environmental cooperation between Saudi Arabia and China is expected to expand further, particularly in green technologies and environmental monitoring, enabling both countries to better address climate challenges and advance sustainable development.