Recently, the researchers of Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography (XIEG), Chinese of Academy of Sciences (CAS), were invited to visit the Arab Center for Studies of Arid Land (ACSAD) in Syria in order to develop the cooperation and academic exchange in the area of desertification control between two sides.

ACSAD is a league organization of Arab States for the agricultural development and research of the arid and semi-arid areas. It was established in Damascus (capital of the Syrian Arab Republic) in 1968 within the framework of the League of Arab States. ACSAD mainly focus on the research fields of combating desertification, vegetation restoration and water resources utilization, and promotes and demonstrates  modern agricultural technologies.

The researchers of XIEG visited the Deir Ezzor Agricultural Research Station and the implemented projects of sand prevention and sand fixation, and vegetation restoration of ACSAD, and learned the research works of ACSAD on the improvement of soil salinization, agricultural water resources utilization and irrigation system, etc.

The two sides of China and Arab League will further discuss the exchange program in 2011 and determine the cooperation on the mechanism, technology and application of desertification prevention. The researchers of XIEG will assist ACSAD to establish the desert botanical garden. In addition, to build the Joint Research Centre of China and Arab League is also included in the cooperation program.