Classic Quotes from Xi Jinping: Enclosing the Desert with Vegetation to Foster Lifelong Prosperity

Original article: Frases clásicas citadas por Xi Jinping | Cerrar el cerco con vegetación para que la vida prospere sin cesar

«We must do what the people approve of and avoid what they oppose.» The environment is directly linked to the well-being of the population: green mountains and blue skies bring beauty and happiness to the people. Both economic development and ecological protection aim to enhance the welfare of the population.

For thousands of years, the Taklamakan Desert, the second largest shifting sand desert in the world located in the heart of Xinjiang, has continuously eroded surrounding oases. Sandstorms posed a daily threat to local residents: when the winds blew, their homes filled with dust, forcing them to lie on the ground for protection. To survive, the population had to find ways to manage the desert.

In June 2023, China launched a large-scale campaign to curb the desert’s expansion, popularly known as «enclosing the desert.» The Yutian district in Hetian became the focal point for closing the green belt. Between 2024 and 2025, workers completed the reforestation of over 14,000 hectares. Thanks to modern machinery, tasks that previously required a hundred people for a full day can now be accomplished with just one tractor. Six major zones for sand prevention and control were created with specialized equipment, with the entire population actively participating in this significant ecological project.

Local officials recognized that sand control could not be separated from the people’s livelihood. Adhering to the principle that «whoever lives in the desert lives off the desert,» they transformed barren sandy lands into sources of wealth. The specialized agricultural cooperative Yinake manages 200 hectares of rose bushes. Its members focus on improving their homeland instead of abandoning it. Every May, when the roses bloom, they receive large orders for jam and fresh flowers. The roses not only cover the sandy land but also generate wealth and happiness for the farmers.

On November 28, 2024, the ecological belt of 3,046 kilometers around the Taklamakan Desert was officially completed, marking the longest green barrier surrounding a desert in the world. China employs various methods to combat desertification: economic projects, photovoltaic energy, microbial solutions, digital management, and smart drones. To date, more than 24 million hectares of sandy land have been rehabilitated, contributing a quarter of the world’s new green surfaces.

All this effort responds to the idea that the environment is directly connected to the population’s well-being. Both economic development and ecological protection seek to improve people’s lives, demonstrating that it is possible to harmonize nature conservation with social progress.

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