China's top forestry official welcomed his Korean counterpart to Beijing on Monday for a meeting of forestry ministers from Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation nations.

Jia Zhibang (r), director of China's State Forestry Administration,?meets with?Korean Forest Service Minister Lee Donkoo?on Monday in Beijing. [forestry.gov.cn]

Jia Zhibang, director of China's State Forestry Administration, told Korean Forest Service Minister Lee Donkoo China will lend its full support to the biannual United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, which will be held in South Korea in October.

Jia said China will also get behind efforts to develop a Northeast Asia network to fight desertification, land degradation and drought.

Chinese and Korean officials discussed areas of collaboration including Siberian tiger breeding programs, sand control and tree-planting projects. Both sides agreed to continue to strengthen ties and take practical steps to further their cooperation on forestry issues.