BEIJING -- On the edge of the Sahara Desert, Amadou Diarra grew up watching the wind carry sand across the thin, tired grass. Villagers in his hometown in Mauritania moved with their herds, chasing pasture that grew scarcer each year.

"Life was tough," Diarra told Xinhua. But when recalling the tremendous changes in life since a China-assisted animal husbandry technology demonstration center was launched in the northwestern African country back in 2017, his face lit up. Within a few short years, the barren, sandy land he once knew has blossomed into green pasture, and the community has taken on a more hopeful look.

"We now know how to grow forage, so our animals can stay close to home instead of roaming far," said Diarra.

The transformation in the young African man's hometown is an example of a profound change inspired by the vision of green development championed by Chinese President Xi Jinping more than 20 years ago: "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets."