NCVC CEO Signs MoU with Gansu Institute and Engages with Leading Chinese Companies to Advance Environmental Cooperation

In conjunction with the official visit of His Excellency, Eng. Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen AlFadley, Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, to the People’s Republic of China, accompanied by a high-level delegation, Dr. Khaled bin Abdullah Al-Abdulkader, CEO of the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification (NCVC), signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Gansu Desert Control Research Institute, focusing on cooperation in the field of desertification.

The signing follows the decision of the Council of Ministers, issued during its session on December 24, 2024, chaired by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, which authorized His Excellency the Minister, Chairman of NCVC’s Board of Directors, or his designee, to negotiate and sign the MoU with the Gansu Institute to enhance cooperation in desertification-related areas.

The agreement aims to foster collaboration in combating desertification, sand encroachment, drought, land degradation, and the impacts of drought in arid areas, while promoting the sustainable management of drylands.

As part of the official mission, Dr. Al-Abdulkader held strategic meetings with several prominent Chinese companies to explore potential collaborations and attract investments to Saudi Arabia. Discussions centered on initiatives such as natural asset management, rangeland rehabilitation, desert resort development, and the transfer of greening and desertification control technologies, supporting Saudi Arabia’s vision for a green economy and sustainable land use.

In Beijing, Dr. Al-Abdulkader met with BGI Group to explore cutting-edge technologies for mangrove cultivation, which play a key role in coastal protection, vegetation expansion, and environmental sustainability.

He also held discussions with Shanghai Mengfu Environmental Protection Technologies, focusing on innovative solutions for converting invasive plant species into marketable, eco-friendly products.

In the field of environmental design, Dr. Al-Abdulkader met with LWK Engineering and Landscape to oversee the company’s portfolio of ecological design projects and examine opportunities for collaboration in the planning and development of national parks, botanical gardens, and wetland areas.

These engagements reflect NCVC’s commitment to strengthening international partnerships, promoting green investment, and adopting forward-looking solutions that contribute to sustainable environmental development in line with Saudi Arabia’s strategic objectives.