Tech alliances helping Central Asian nations

BEIJING - China's technological cooperation with Central Asian countries including Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan has yielded fruitful results, according to the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

CAS Research Center for Ecology and Environment of Central Asia has cooperated with local governments in Kyrgyzstan to conduct demonstration projects in improving drinking water safety. They introduced new water purification equipment to tackle excessive heavy metals and microorganisms in drinking water, benefiting local residents.

Researchers from both China and Tajikistan have jointly conducted remote sensing monitoring of lakes. They also stepped up cooperation in glacier survey, hydrology and water resources utilization, biodiversity and ecosystem change, disaster warning and the application of unmanned aerial vehicles.

Under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, the CAS has launched the Alliance of International Science Organization, a platform for countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road to carry out scientific and technological cooperation, meet challenges and promote mutual understanding among the people.

The CAS has provided over 1.8 billion yuan ($260 million) for construction of science and technology projects in association with the BRI since 2013.