Urumqi, 24 September 2026 — A delegation of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia, headed by Executive Director Batyr Mamedov, visited the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The delegation included Azamat Kauazov, Manager of the Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Programme.
The delegation was received by Zhang Yuanming, Director of the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, and Wang Meng, Deputy Director of the Department of International Cooperation. During the meeting, the parties discussed the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia and the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography in April 2026, as well as prospects for further cooperation.
The main topics of the talks were the creation of joint centres and laboratories, the preparation of joint publications and grant applications, the exchange of scientific data and experience, and the involvement of young scientists and specialists from Central Asia. Special attention was given to land restoration, water resources management, biodiversity conservation, and climate change adaptation.
After the talks, the delegation visited the Xinjiang Natural History Museum (Xinjiang Natural Museum). The guests viewed a large-scale exhibition that includes a topographic model of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and neighbouring states, as well as collections reflecting the unique natural diversity, geology, and ecosystems of the region.
The parties noted that the implementation of the memorandum creates a solid basis for long-term partnership and the development of practical solutions in the field of ecology and sustainable development. Following the visit, an agreement was reached to maintain working contacts and to prepare concrete steps for the creation of joint scientific structures and the submission of funding applications.