(Global Times, July 30, 2015) The Fifth Kubuqi International Desert Forum came to an end on Wednesday at the Seven-star Lake Hotel in Ordos, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, after approving the Kubuqi Action Plan for Global Desertification Control and launching the Kubuqi Ecological Restoration Project.

The two-day forum, themed "Desert Ecological Civilization and Co-building the Silk Road," was attended by more than 500 politicians, entrepreneurs, environmentalists and young leaders from 40 countries and regions around the world, including China's Vice-Premiere Wang Yang, to discuss the fight against desertification.
On the first night of the forurm, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) announced the winners of the 2015 Land for Life Award: Eygpt's SEKEM  and China's Elion Resources Group. 

"These two winners exemplify the type of leadership and initiatives that business corporations can undertake to contribute to sustainable land management. Their work has not only benefited local communities by improving their livelihoods and creating local job opportunities, but has also contributed to conserving nature," Monique Barbut, UNCCD executive secretary, said at the award ceremony.

Sha Zukang, former United Nations under-secretary-general for Economic and Social Affairs, said the purpose of the desert forum was not only environmental protection, but also to inspire people to think of the desert as a new environmental resource.

"The Kubuqi International Desert Forum offers a forward-looking and broad-based platform to address desertification. I am confident that the forum will contribute to the implementation of the post-2015 development agenda and international cooperation," Sha said during his speech at the forum.