Media OutReach
China Focus: Technology sows seeds of hope in combating desertification
In the sparse, sandy grasslands of Jarud Banner in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, machinery is filling wind-eroded pits and laying sand barriers while workers are busy supporting the comprehensive management of Horqin Sandy Land.
“Our independently developed sand-fixing machine processes raw materials like reeds and straw into grass mats for sand barrier installation,” said Yu Dongjiang from M-Grass Ecological Environment (Group) Co., Ltd.
The sand-fixing machine is simple in structure, easy to operate, and highly adaptable to various terrains. It improves raw material utilization efficiency, enabling the installation of nearly 30,000 meters of sand barriers daily, according to Yu, who is also the project manager for the comprehensive management of the northern central Horqin Sandy Land.
Previously, the manual weaving of grass mats required significant labor and time.
Yu’s project shows China’s wider push to advance ecological restoration. In the arid landscapes of northern China, cutting-edge technology is transforming the fight against desertification into a story of hope and renewal.
From satellite monitoring systems to innovative tree-planting tools, the integration of advanced equipment has elevated traditional reforestation efforts.
In Inner Mongolia’s Kubuqi Desert, for example, drones have been employed to plant seeds across vast stretches of barren land, significantly improving efficiency and survival rates. These seeds, combined with specially developed nutrient packs, ensure saplings thrive in challenging environments.
While in northwest China’s Gansu Province, solar energy projects are being combined with afforestation programs at the southern edge of the Tengger Desert, creating a synergy that not only restores ecosystems but also boosts local economic development.
Local villagers are also finding employment in these initiatives, blending green technology with grassroots participation.
“I never would have imagined that as a farmer, I could find work in the sand dunes,” said Qin Zhaoping, a resident of Hengliang Township in Gansu’s Gulang County. His job involves adjusting the sprinkler irrigation systems beneath photovoltaic panels and tending to the thriving sand plants.
For Qin, photovoltaic-based desert control is a meaningful effort that benefits future generations. “It generates electricity, combats desertification, and provides me with an income from working here,” he said.
According to official data, 53 percent of China’s treatable desertified land has been restored, leading to a net reduction of approximately 4.33 million hectares of degraded land.
One of the country’s landmark ecological projects is the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program. Since 1978, China has expanded its afforestation area by 32 million hectares under the program.
Meanwhile, China’s desertification control technologies and equipment are making their way onto the global stage, sharing ecological restoration expertise with other countries and regions.
To join the efforts of the Global South, China has launched desertification control centers with Arab states and Mongolia, created demonstration sites in Central Asia and Africa, and provided satellite technology and big data support for Africa’s Great Green Wall initiative.
In December, Yu’s company signed a memorandum of understanding with the municipal government of Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia to enhance the country’s ecological environment and promote practical cooperation.
The collaboration includes conducting ecological restoration in desert areas surrounding the city, and jointly developing, maintaining, and cultivating plant resources.
“Through smart machinery, innovative research on grass species, big data analysis, and seed packages, the company has developed a scientific and efficient path for ecological restoration,” said Yu.
“The integrated use of these technologies not only improves the success rate of ecological restoration but also significantly reduces the cost of restoration,” Yu added.
China’s global cooperation in combating desertification also won praise from experts and officials during the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) held in December.
“We’re incredibly proud to be a partner with China. China has been a pioneer in showing how to create prosperous areas in areas that were once desertified and degraded. And we are proud to partner with you (China) to bring those lessons to other countries,” said Valerie Hickey, global director for the environment at the World Bank, at the conference.
Hashtag: #TheInformationOfficeofInnerMongoliaAutonomousRegionalCommittee
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
In 2025, popular cryptocurrencies show different dynamics: Bitcoin is up 8%, Ethereum is down 6% as of 27 January 2025, despite uncertain regulatory developments. U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order significantly revamping the national cryptocurrency policy. The order established a dedicated cryptocurrency working group to propose new regulations, safeguarded banking services for crypto companies, and prohibited the creation of a competing U.S. central bank digital currency. Additionally, it repealed burdensome accounting guidelines that had previously stifled digital asset adoption—a notable victory for the crypto industry. However, some investors remain sceptical, showing limited enthusiasm despite these advancements. The cryptocurrency market is seeing a sharp decline on Monday, 27 January, with Bitcoin dropping below $100,000 to an 11-day low. This downturn is largely driven by a significant selloff in the technology sector, which has sparked a broader risk-off sentiment among investors. As cryptocurrencies are often considered high-risk assets, this shift in market mood has weighed heavily on their performance.
Additionally, caution surrounding the Federal Reserve’s upcoming meeting is adding to the pressure. Investors anxiously await decisions on interest rates, with concerns that the Fed may keep rates elevated for a prolonged period. This uncertainty about monetary policy has heightened market unease, further contributing to the decline in cryptocurrency valuations.
Therefore, the snake pattern and consolidation of ETHUSD that has formed in recent months may be replaced by a sharp move, after the adoption of new regulations or clear signals on the Fed Funds rate.
Hashtag: #Octa
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Octa
Octa is an international CFD broker that has been providing online trading services worldwide since 2011. It offers commission-free access to financial markets and various services used by clients from 180 countries who have opened more than 52 million trading accounts. To help its clients reach their investment goals, Octa offers free educational webinars, articles, and analytical tools.
The company is involved in a comprehensive network of charitable and humanitarian initiatives, including the improvement of educational infrastructure and short-notice relief projects supporting local communities.
In the APAC region, Octa received the ‘Best Trading Platform Malaysia 2024’ and the ‘Most Reliable Broker Asia 2023’ awards from Brands and Business Magazine.
Media OutReach
TCMA joins Saraburi Province to mark one year anniversary of progress “SARABURI SANDBOX” Thailand’s first low-carbon city
SARABURI SANDBOX is an area-based collaborative effort, driven by the Public-Private-People Partnership (PPP) approach, comprising three key stakeholders: Saraburi Province, TCMA, and FTI Saraburi Provincial Chapter. Led by the Governor of Saraburi Province and supported by domestic and international partners, aiming at transforming Saraburi into a low-carbon city by fostering collaboration among the government sector, the private sector, civil society, and related industries for various pilot projects of CO2 reduction.
A year of action since the joint declaration of commitment on August 15, 2023, the tangible and significant progress has been made across five key focus areas: 1) clean energy transition, 2) green industry promotion, 3) waste to value, 4) low-carbon agriculture, and 5) green space expansion. The project still continues with collaborative effort of all sectors, including to seek additional green funding to achieve a target reduction of 5 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2027.
Mr. Bancha Chaowarin, Governor of Saraburi Province emphasized the collaborative approach, outlining four key working principles: 1) immediate action, 2) trial-and-error, flexibility and adaptability, 3) respectful dialogue and consensus-building, and 4) maintaining a positive working atmosphere. The Saraburi Governor affirmed Saraburi’s readiness to serve as a lab city for new technologies and innovations, with the goal of replicating successful models across other provinces, leading to tangible greenhouse gas reduction outcomes, and spreading economic and social benefits to the locals of Saraburi. The Saraburi Governor stressed that the next phase requires continued cooperation, particularly policy support from the government to achieve the Thailand Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) goals.
Dr. Chana Poomee, Chairman of Thai Cement Manufacturers Association (TCMA) and Vice Chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries stated that TCMA, as a representative of Thailand’s leading cement manufacturers and a key manufacturing sector in Saraburi, TCMA plays a pivotal role in this project, is committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, in alignment with the Thailand 2050 Net Zero Cement and Concrete Roadmap. TCMA’s contributions to building Saraburi as the first low-carbon city of Thailand include optimizing cement production processes, fostering collaboration among stakeholders, and seeking green fund and opportunities for international cooperation.
Over the past year, the cement industry has made significant contributions to the SARABURI SANDBOX across several areas: 1) Industrial Process and Product Use (IPPU): research and development of clinker substitution, leveraging nanotechnology to enhance cement properties. Collaboration among stakeholders is essential for knowledge development, machinery upgrades, investment incentives, and regulatory adjustments to promote the adoption of hydraulic cement-a low carbon cement. These actions can contribute CO2 reduction by over 1 million tons in 2023-2024. 2) Green and Smart Mining: efficient resource utilization, coupled with sustainable land rehabilitation to benefit local communities and the environment. 3) Clean Energy Transition: implementation of waste heat recovery (WHR) systems, increased use of renewable energy sources such as solar power, and adoption of biomass and refuse derived fuel (RDF) to replace coal through the co-processing in cement kilns. These measures are expected to cut carbon emissions by approximately 9-12 million tons per year and mitigate PM 2.5 pollution from agricultural burning, while generating additional income for farmers and promoting efficient waste management to zero landfill. 4) Carbon Value Creation: researching carbon utilization methods, including CO2-to-Methanol. Notably, SARABURI SANDBOX has become the first industrial cluster in Thailand accepted into the Transitioning Industrial Clusters Initiative of the World Economic Forum.
Dr. Chana Poomee highlighted that while significant progress has been made, achieving the goal of establishing a low-carbon city requires innovative approaches, strong leadership across sectors, strong local administration, and substantial international support. Moving forward, increased collaboration with organizations such as the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the German International Cooperation Organization (GIZ), and other global entities will be crucial in supporting energy transition and carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) efforts. Dr. Chana emphasized the need for government policies to provide essential support, including knowledge sharing, technological integration, and funding to facilitate meaningful change.
***********************************************
The “SARABURI SANDBOX: Joining Forces to Create Thailand’s First Low-Carbon City” event was held on January 22, 2025, the Navaminda Kasatriyadhiraj Royal Air Force Academy (NKRAFA), Muak Lek District, Saraburi Province. The event aimed to raise public awareness, extract key lessons from the past year, and brainstorming to gather input from various sectors to shape the future strategies of SARABURI SANDBOX. More than 700 participants from different sectors attended the event.
Hashtag: #TCMA #ThaiCementManufacturersAssociation
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Media OutReach
The EM DISTRICT Bangkok Unveils Spectacular Chinese New Year Celebrations with 3,000 Panda to Mark 50 Years of Thai-Chinese Diplomatic Friendship
From January 22 to February 23, EM DISTRICT will be transformed into a whimsical panda wonderland with the installation of 3,000 adorable panda sculptures. Enhancing the experience, a lively Panda Flash Troop will perform twice daily from January 27th to January 29th, adding an extra touch of excitement and joy for families and visitors of all ages. On the 26th – 27th of January there will be a Panda Culture truck that will showcase Panda ecosystem for all to see as it cruises throughout the city of Bangkok starting from Asoke intersection to the Grand Palace and back to EM DISTRICT.
Food lovers will be treated to a culinary adventure at the Chinese Boulevard Street Food and Tea House Market, hosted at Emquartier. This market will feature 30 carefully curated vendors offering an array of authentic Chinese dishes, traditional teas, and irresistible snacks, promising a feast for the senses.
At Emsphere’s Em Market Hall, the Panda Exhibition Showcase and Café will provide a platform to explore and shop for top-selling Chinese products. Running from January 22nd to February 25th, this unique showcase brings the best of China’s craftsmanship and innovation directly to Bangkok, offering visitors a chance to discover exclusive items and cultural treasures.
A Grand Golden Dragon Theme Across EM DISTRICT in this celebration of the Year of the Golden Dragon, all three EM DISTRICT malls will feature stunning golden dragon designs, symbolizing prosperity, strength, and good fortune. These intricate and immersive decorations aim to captivate visitors and create a festive ambiance that resonates with the spirit of Chinese New Year.
The EM DISTRICT Bangkok invites everyone to be part of this historic celebration which will include Chinese face changing shows, concerts, lion blessing troop to commemorate five decades of Thai-Chinese friendship through vibrant festivities, iconic installations, and cultural showcases. Don’t miss this unforgettable event that bridges cultures and communities in the heart of Bangkok.
Hashtag: #EMDISTRICT
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
-
Feature/OPED5 years agoDavos was Different this year
-
Travel/Tourism8 years ago
Lagos Seals Western Lodge Hotel In Ikorodu
-
Showbiz2 years agoEstranged Lover Releases Videos of Empress Njamah Bathing
-
Banking7 years agoSort Codes of GTBank Branches in Nigeria
-
Economy2 years agoSubsidy Removal: CNG at N130 Per Litre Cheaper Than Petrol—IPMAN
-
Banking2 years agoFirst Bank Announces Planned Downtime
-
Sports2 years agoHighest Paid Nigerian Footballer – How Much Do Nigerian Footballers Earn
-
Technology4 years agoHow To Link Your MTN, Airtel, Glo, 9mobile Lines to NIN