Iran, China have "good capacities" for environmental cooperation: Iranian VP

Ali Salajegheh (R), Iranian vice president and head of the Department of Environment (DoE), and Stefan Priesner (C), the United Nations resident coordinator for Iran, attend a press conference ahead of the International Conference on Combating Sand and Dust Storms in Tehran, Iran, on Sept. 5, 2023. Iran and China have "good capacities" for environmental cooperation, especially in combating dust and sand storms, said Ali Salajegheh, Iran's vice president and head of the Department of Environment (DoE). (Xinhua/Shadati)

TEHRAN, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Iran and China have "good capacities" for environmental cooperation, especially in combating dust and sand storms, said Ali Salajegheh, Iran's vice president and head of the Department of Environment (DoE).

Salajegheh made the remarks on Tuesday at a press conference in the capital Tehran ahead of the International Conference on Combating Sand and Dust Storms, which will be held in Tehran on Sept. 9 and 10.

The press conference was also attended by Stefan Priesner, the United Nations resident coordinator for Iran.

Salajegheh said countries, including China, Russia, and Iran's neighboring countries, will participate in the upcoming conference.

He said Iran and China have attached great significance to environmental collaboration under a bilateral 25-year cooperation agreement signed in March 2021.

Lauding China's experience and work in desert greening, the Iranian official said regular exchanges are ongoing between climate experts of the two countries, particularly in fighting sand and dust storms.

He said Iran, located in an arid and semi-arid zone, is the final destination of sand and dust storms in the region and, thus, has gained accumulative experience in combating them, which it is ready to share with other states.

When referring to the steep environmental challenges facing the Earth, the DoE president called for effective environmental management to alleviate their negative impact on the Earth and the human being.

For his part, Priesner hailed Iran's constructive role in combatting sand and dust storms, including by hosting the upcoming conference, noting that Iran and the UN have established cooperation in this area through various activities.

Over the past years, sand and dust storms, mainly originating from neighboring states, have hit different parts of Iran, posing risks to its people's health and lives. 

Stefan Priesner (R), the United Nations resident coordinator for Iran, speaks at a press conference ahead of the International Conference on Combating Sand and Dust Storms in Tehran, Iran, on Sept. 5, 2023. Iran and China have "good capacities" for environmental cooperation, especially in combating dust and sand storms, said Ali Salajegheh, Iran's vice president and head of the Department of Environment (DoE). (Xinhua/Shadati)

Ali Salajegheh (R), Iranian vice president and head of the Department of Environment (DoE), and Stefan Priesner (C), the United Nations resident coordinator for Iran, attend a press conference ahead of the International Conference on Combating Sand and Dust Storms in Tehran, Iran, on Sept. 5, 2023. Iran and China have "good capacities" for environmental cooperation, especially in combating dust and sand storms, said Ali Salajegheh, Iran's vice president and head of the Department of Environment (DoE). (Xinhua/Shadati)

Ali Salajegheh, Iranian vice president and head of the Department of Environment (DoE), speaks at a press conference ahead of the International Conference on Combating Sand and Dust Storms in Tehran, Iran, on Sept. 5, 2023. Iran and China have "good capacities" for environmental cooperation, especially in combating dust and sand storms, said Ali Salajegheh, Iran's vice president and head of the Department of Environment (DoE). (Xinhua/Shadati)

Ali Salajegheh (R), Iranian vice president and head of the Department of Environment (DoE), shakes hands with Stefan Priesner, the United Nations resident coordinator for Iran, during a press conference ahead of the International Conference on Combating Sand and Dust Storms in Tehran, Iran, on Sept. 5, 2023. Iran and China have "good capacities" for environmental cooperation, especially in combating dust and sand storms, said Ali Salajegheh, Iran's vice president and head of the Department of Environment (DoE). (Xinhua/Shadati)