High-level Uzbek Delegation Visits XIEG

A high-level delegation from Uzbekistan, led by Ikhtiyor Niyazmuradow, Department Head of International Cooperation with the People's Republic of China within the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan, visited the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography (XIEG) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) on July 8th, signaling a commitment to bolster collaboration in key areas following the recent China-Central Asia Summit.

The 20-member delegation held extensive discussions with XIEG, with the aim of strengthening cooperation in critical fields such as saline-alkali land remediation, desertification prevention and control, and the preservation and restoration of forests and grasslands.

Director ZHANG Yuanming of XIEG welcomed the delegation, highlighting the institute's successful collaborations with Uzbek institutions. He specifically mentioned ongoing projects in water resource management, biodiversity conservation, and the fight against desertification and salinization. He emphasized that XIEG's achievements in saline-alkali soil remediation and efficient water resource utilization, have been highly recognized by the Uzbek government.

Furthermore, ZHANG introduced the establishment of the CAS Research Center for Ecology and Environment of Central Asia (Tashkent Headquarters), under the support of the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The Tashkent Headquarters will focus on scientific research and talent development in ecology, environmental protection, and green agriculture, with the aim of becoming a leading research institution across Central Asia.

Ikhtiyor Niyazmuradow praised the fruitful collaborations between XIEG and Uzbekistan. He emphasized that the all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era between China and Uzbekistan, represents the pinnacle of bilateral diplomatic relations. He expressed his hope for deeper, more comprehensive, and pragmatic cooperation and exchanges with XIEG, driven by the strong friendship between the two nations.

The delegation also heard from TAN Mingjie, a leader from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Xinjiang. TAN outlined the region’s agricultural achievements and proposed expanding cooperation between Xinjiang and Uzbekistan in areas such as crop breeding, agricultural product trade, investment, poverty reduction, and saline-alkali land improvement.

The Uzbek delegation's visit, organized by the Uzbek government, reflects both nations' commitment to translating high-level agreements into concrete projects. The visit sought to leverage Xinjiang's proven expertise in desertification control, saline-alkali land improvement, and technology promotion.

Participants of the meeting. (Image by XIEG)

Contact

LONG Huaping

Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography

E-mail: longhp@ms.xjb.ac.cn

Web: http://english.egi.cas.cn