On August 23, the “Integration, Testing, and Demonstration of Photovoltaic Technology in the Ecological Governance of the Aral Sea” project, organized by the International Program Office of ANSO Green Aral Sea Science Initiative, in collaboration with the Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, was officially launched.
Abdukhakimov Aziz Abdukaxarovich, Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change of Uzbekistan; YU Jun, Chinese Ambassador to Uzbekistan; Shakhlokhon Turdikulova, Vice President of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan; and ZHANG Yuanming, Director of the International Program Office of ANSO Green Aral Sea Science Initiative and Director of the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography of the Chinese Academy of Sciences attended the kick-off ceremony.
At the ceremony, Mr. Abdukhakimov expressed his gratitude to the Chinese government for its ongoing support for scientific cooperation between the two countries. He also emphasized that the expedition would play a crucial role in the future development of the Aral Sea region and the lives of local residents.
Ambassador YU Jun highlighted the importance of ecological protection and restoration efforts in the Aral Sea region, noting that these efforts represent a significant aspect of practical cooperation between China and Uzbekistan, as well as China and Central Asia. “These efforts have been incorporated into bilateral and multilateral documents multiple times and have become a consensus at the leadership level. Additionally, the joint scientific expedition will establish a solid research foundation for the comprehensive management of the Aral Sea,” he said.
Prof. Turdikulova praised China’s extensive experience in large-scale environmental governance and restoration efforts. She expressed strong confidence that this visit would yield valuable insights and pave the way for significant opportunities for future collaboration.
Prof. ZHANG Yuanming outlined the background, significance, implementation plan, and expected outcomes of the joint scientific expedition.
The scientific expeditionwas supported by the ANSO Joint Research Cooperation Special Project and the State Power Investment Group Xinjiang Energy and Chemical Co., Ltd., and is a key component of the ANSO Joint Research Cooperation Project and a major initiative under the International Program of ANSO Green Aral Sea Science Initiative. The scientific expedition team comprises 32 scientists from three countries, including representatives from the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Russian Academy of Sciences, the National University of Uzbekistan, and the National Research Universities of Uzbekistan.
The scientific expedition team will explore the mechanisms of ecological degradation in the Aral Sea. They will also assess the current status and challenges of the large-scale restoration efforts that have been underway for many years. This includes conducting field studies on the biodiversity, soil, hydrology, and geomorphology of the dried-up lakebed. Additionally, the team will propose “a roadmap for restoration and green development for the Aral Sea” to support comprehensive management plans for the Aral Sea dry lake basin and contribute to regional green and sustainable development.
Source: Dr. QIAO Jianfang, the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography of the Chinese Academy of Sciences
Tel: 86-10-84097121
Email: anso-public@anso.org.cn
Location：No.16 Lincui Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China
