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Yang Hansen's goal helped China defeat Lebanon in World Cup qualifiers
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CGTN
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Yang Hansen's goal helped China defeat Lebanon in World Cup qualifiers

China defeated Lebanon with a score of 89-87 in the second round of the FIBA 2027 Basketball World Cup Asian qualifiers. The victory was secured by Yang Hansen's shot, which he made 2.2 seconds before the end of the match, held in Zhuji city, Zhejiang province, on Monday.

Initially, China looked confident when Zhu Junlun scored one of two free throws, giving China an 87-81 lead with 22.5 seconds remaining. However, Lebanon managed to tie the game by scoring six consecutive points, capitalizing on a mistake by their opponent, after which Amir Saud made three free throws, leveling the score at 87-87.

As overtime loomed, Zhao Zhiwei found Yang from the side line. The 21-year-old center bypassed the defender and finished the attack at the basket with a decisive shot, before Lebanon could score in the final possession.

Yang came off the bench and led China's scoring, netting 19 points on 8 out of 9 attempts, while also adding nine rebounds and three assists. Lao Sanin finished the game with 18 points and six rebounds, while Wang Junze contributed 11 points and five rebounds.

China initially took an early lead, but Lebanon responded with a scoring run. Then, a Chinese surge of 9 points restored momentum in favor of the home team, and they ended the first quarter with a 23-14 advantage.

In the second period, Lebanon narrowed the gap, but at halftime, China still led 46-42. The visitors found their rhythm from beyond the three-point line after the break and took the lead, establishing a 69-67 advantage before the fourth quarter.

The contest remained tight until China opened up a lead to 87-81 late in the final period, but Lebanon's subsequent six-point run led to a dramatic conclusion.

Omar Jamaleddin led Lebanon with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Lebanon's head coach Ahmad El Farran pointed to seven missed free throws by his team as a key factor in the game, which was decided by only two points.

This victory allowed China to conclude a two-game series within the qualification window after defeating Qatar, improving their overall record to 5-3. China ranks third in Group F, trailing Japan and Lebanon, both of whom have a 6-2 record.

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China increases assistance to Mongolia in combating desertification
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cgtn.com

China increases assistance to Mongolia in combating desertification

In Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, the seventeenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is taking place, where China is providing decisive support to the summit. Beyond conference halls, China has long been helping its neighbor counter the growing threat.

More than seventy percent of Mongolia's territory suffers from desertification, with the southern Gobi region being the most affected. Spring dust storms regularly cross the border, posing a common environmental problem.

Since the signing of the UNCCD in 1994, China has transformed from a recipient of international green aid into a global provider of land restoration expertise, becoming the first country to reverse land degradation and reduce its desert footprint. Mongolia is a key partner in this effort.

Mongolia has an acute shortage of seedling nurseries, and China has participated in filling this deficit. The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in Northern China has become the main supplier of seedlings to Mongolia, sending over 11.7 million seedlings by early June.

According to Hou Shuxi, a specialist from the Inner Mongolia University of Finance and Economics, specialists from Inner Mongolia are helping to create ecological restoration zones, implement afforestation models, and launch joint sandstorm monitoring systems. At the core of this common toolkit lies the well-known Kubuci Model, based on partnership between the public, private, and civil sectors.

Meteorological cooperation is also deepening. In April, both countries held their first joint video briefing to assess the risks of spring dust storms, vegetation growth, and seasonal climate trends. At the World AI Conference in Shanghai in 2025, China transferred its AI-based warning system, MAZU, to Mongolia.

The formal basis for cooperation was laid in September 2023 with the opening of the China-Mongolia Joint Center for Desertification Prevention and Control, managed by the Beijing Forestry University.

Chinese companies are also contributing. In 2022, Shini Shini Co., Ltd., a mining company managed by China Railway Resources Group in Dornod Province, launched the first zero-waste underground waste dump system in Mongolia.

By the end of 2025, crews have planted over 12,000 trees and restored more than 30 hectares of land. These restoration efforts align with Mongolia's initiative to plant 1 billion trees by 2030.

Gun Minshan, the company's executive director, stated: 'We firmly believe that mines can serve as a model for green development.' He added: 'Our goal is to turn this mine into a flagship example of China-Mongolia cooperation in combating desertification. We will increase environmental investments, promote digital environmental monitoring and low-carbon mining technologies, and deepen experience exchange with Mongolian colleagues.'

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