Inauguration of China-Tajikistan Belt and Road Joint Laboratory Accelerates Biodiversity Research

The official inauguration of the China-Tajikistan Belt and Road Joint Laboratory on Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use took place in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on July 21st, marking a significant advancement in bilateral scientific collaboration.

The ceremony featured the unveiling of the laboratory's plaque by CHEN Jiachang, Vice Minister of Science and Technology of China, and Kobiljon Khushvakhtzoda, President of the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan. Kosimsho Iskandarov, Chief Scientific Secretary of the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan, chaired the ceremony.

Following the ceremony, Vice Minister CHEN and his delegation toured the Joint Laboratory's facilities and held discussions with researchers from both nations.

During the meeting, CHEN highlighted the lab's importance as a "key scientific and technological platform for advancing the Belt and Road Initiative," signaling a new phase of collaborative innovation. His ministry pledges policy support to ensure the lab's effective operation, focusing on young scientist engagement, translation of research findings into tangible outcomes, and integrating biodiversity conservation with industrial development.

"We want this Joint Laboratory to be a model of China-Tajikistan scientific cooperation and inject new impetus into the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative," he stated.

President Khushvakhtzoda lauded the partnership, positioning the lab as a "hub for ecological research in Central Asia," crucial for addressing climate change and conserving biodiversity.

ZHANG Yuanming, Director of the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, presented an overview of cooperative achievements between both sides, followed by presentations from Academician Abdusattor Saidov and Prof. YANG Weikang, Co-Directors of the Joint Laboratory, detailing its development trajectory and future research priorities.

The laboratory, approved on October 14, 2024, will concentrate on biodiversity conservation, ecosystem services, and biological industry, aiming to enhance regional development through joint research and talent cultivation. It's expected to provide critical scientific backing for a shared ecological future in the region.

CHEN Jiachang, and Kobiljon Khushvakhtzoda, jointly unveiled the plaque for the Joint Laboratory.

Discussion with researchers from both nations.

Contact

LONG Huaping

Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography

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

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