China’s Ministry of Science and Technology recently officially approved the start of construction of two joint laboratories under the “Belt and Road” initiative, linking Gansu Province (Northwest China) with Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, respectively. The two laboratories will aim to promote exchanges and cooperation between Gansu Province and Central Asian countries in the fields of science and technology.

The laboratories will focus on four main areas, including interpreting the value of the cultural heritage of the Great Silk Road, protecting cave temples and earthen architectural sites, as well as preserving, restoring, exhibiting, and utilizing significant heritage sites such as the ruins of the ancient settlement of Ak-Beshim (Suyab).

The China-Kazakhstan Joint Laboratory for Pasture Ecological Restoration under the “Belt and Road” initiative will be jointly established by Lanzhou University and the Kazakh Agrotechnical Research University named after S. Seifullin. Its main focus will be on three areas: innovations in the use of embryonic grass plasma resources, ecological restoration of pasture and meadowlands, and intelligent pasture management.

In the future, the Dunhuang Research Academy and Lanzhou University will promptly develop detailed construction plans, concentrating on advancing the joint laboratories to contribute to the high-quality joint construction of the “Belt and Road” initiative. Source: Xinhua