Pyongyang, October 29 (KCNA) -- Niger's President Mahamadou Issoufou, making an address at an international conference on Monday, underscored the need to cooperate in the area of fighting against desertification of arable lands.

He said in the current state of affairs where a minority of the people continues to pollute the environment while the majority continue to suffer, the people living in arid regions will bear the most negative effects of climate change which worsens the drought and famine situations.

He called on regional countries to strengthen scientific and technological cooperation in combating desertification.

Issoufou reiterated his government's commitment to ensure that Niger achieves food security through the "3N Initiative".