HOHHOT - Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday stressed global cooperation to combat desertification, which he said is a common challenge for mankind.

Xi made the remarks in a congratulatory letter to a high-level meeting of the 13th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP13) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), which opened Monday in Ordos City in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

In the letter, Xi said land desertification is a major ecological issue affecting the existence and development of mankind, and the situation for controlling desertification remains grave despite the progress the world has achieved since the UNCCD came into effect 21 years ago.

Xi wished the conference a success. He said the conference, with the theme of "Combating Desertification for Human Well-being," intends to develop a new strategic framework for the UNCCD, which will be significant and positive for guaranteeing global ecological security.

China will unswervingly fulfill its obligations under the UNCCD, and continue to push forward communication and cooperation with all member parties and international organizations to work for the targets set during the conference and create a better world, Xi said.

Vice Premier Wang Yang, who read the letter and delivered a keynote speech at the meeting's opening ceremony, said that in fighting desertification, China will ensure closer communication and cooperation with the international community and strive to develop a path of desertification control with Chinese characteristics, which combines fighting desertification with improving people's livelihood.

About 1,400 delegates from 196 parties and more than 20 international organizations attended the biennial conference. Opening on Sept. 6, the conference will last about two weeks.