Around 1,400 people from around the world gathered on Wednesday in Ordos, North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, for the ongoing 13th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 13) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), which will last from Sept 6 to 17.

Ordos officials said that with fully equipped facilities and services the city can ensure the session’s success.

The following gives a very quick description of Ordos, which has been preparing for a whole year for this significant UN meeting.

Venues

The five-colored hadas hang under the roof of the plenary session hall, welcoming attendees from all over the world. [Photo by Song Tingting/chinadaily.com.cn]

The Ordos International Convention and Exhibition Center serves as the main convention hall. The venue is now ready for use after completing 31 main reconstruction and modification projects in accordance with UN requirements.

Infrastructures

Efforts have been ongoing to make Ordos one of China’s greenest cities for its size.

Infrastructural facilities have been upgraded so that the city can provide its residents and session participants with sound sewage treatments, a flood prevention system and supplies of clean water, gas and electricity.

Accommodation and catering services

Selected international hotels will serve the COP13 attendees. They will provide varieties of Chinese cuisine complemented with Western-style food.

Guests will be able to order a meal through the hotels’ self-catering service.

Transportation support

The organizing committee has arranged different kinds of vehicles for the event, including shuttles between meeting venues and hotels, public transportation and taxis.

Sedans, commercial vehicles and large and medium-sized buses are ready to ensure that participants travel around the city smoothly.

Volunteers

Two volunteers working in front of the convention center, carrying goods and materials for the conference. [Photo by Song Tingting/chinadaily.com.cn]

About 2,200 volunteers will offer a wide range of services including medical care and security.

More than 1,200 of the volunteers speak fluent English, French, Russian, Arabic or Spanish.

Health care service

The organizing committee’s medical support group has worked out a comprehensive health care plan that includes emergency treatment.

More than 200 medical workers will be on call during the meeting, with 23 ambulances and one mobile hospital standing by.

Medical personnel and facilities have been allocated to meeting venues and hotels, while designated hospitals are fully prepared to admit COP13 patients.

Field trips

The organizing committee has arranged field trips, with 2 routes and 4 areas confirmed after inspection.

Two field trip routes to learn how Ordos combat desertification

Exhibitions

Two sections in the exhibition center have been set aside to exhibit Chinese and international achievements in combating desertification.