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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
URUMQI, Sept. 1 (Xinhua) — When people think of Central Asia, they associate it with many colors: yellow for vast deserts, black for rich oil reserves, white for cotton fields.
Especially in Uzbekistan, located in the heart of the region, cotton is often called “white gold.” Cotton is the country’s natural national wealth, and today it has become a symbol of friendship, signifying scientific cooperation between China and Central Asian countries, as well as their shared commitment to sustainable development.
In the suburbs of Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, cotton fields stretch to the horizon. Among them is a demonstration site for water-saving drip irrigation technology, covering about five hectares. It was established in 2012 through the joint efforts of the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a research institution in Uzbekistan.
The technology involves covering the soil with a thin plastic film, under which small hoses are located. When the researchers open the tap, water slowly flows from the hose directly onto the roots of the cotton plant. The plastic film prevents water from evaporating and heats the soil.
According to Li Yaoming, director of the Silk Road Green Development Research Center at the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese technology has increased cotton yields by two to three times and achieved water savings of more than 50 percent compared with traditional irrigation methods.
“When we, scientists, promoted drip irrigation technology in Uzbekistan more than 10 years ago, local farmers did not believe us. However, after seeing the successful results of the demonstration site, several institutions and government agencies in Central Asia approached us with a request for cooperation,” he said.
Beginning in 2018, Uzbek officials assessed yields at the demonstration site and found that both yields and water-use efficiency were significantly improved compared to traditional methods.
Uzbekistan plans to establish 2 million hectares of highly efficient, water-saving cotton fields across the country. If China's water-saving technologies are fully implemented, the country is expected to save 8 billion to 10 billion cubic meters of water annually for agricultural use. Li Yaoming told Xinhua that some of this excess water, redirected to the Aral Sea, could effectively mitigate the effects of salt dust storms and improve the ecological situation in the region.
Drip irrigation technology is an example of China's contribution to the development of agricultural practices in Central Asian countries. Many innovations targeted for use in Xinjiang, such as monitoring and early warning systems for drought in wheat fields and pest disasters, reclamation of saline lands, and measures to combat desertification, have been applied in countries such as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.
These approaches build on China’s extensive experience in promoting sustainable development. The Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in northwest China and the Central Asian countries are located within typical temperate desert zones, characterized by arid climates and fragile ecosystems. Climate change and human impacts pose a common set of challenges to the region: shrinking water resources, melting glaciers, rising temperatures, land degradation, and loss of biodiversity.
Scientists note that water resources and the ecological environment serve as the basis for sustainable development of the region.
Agriculture in both Xinjiang and Central Asian countries relies heavily on irrigation, but traditional flood irrigation methods often waste valuable water resources. Climate change is making the problem worse. Li Yaoming said temperatures in the region are rising faster than the global average, glaciers are retreating at an alarming rate, and extreme weather events are becoming more common.
In line with China's unified national strategy, Xinjiang has made significant progress in water-saving agriculture, particularly through the widespread use of drip irrigation, while prioritizing the restoration of oasis farming and inland rivers.
“Our cooperation began in the 1990s, and since 2010, we have seen the launch of many large-scale projects,” Li Yaoming said. About thirty research institutes based in Xinjiang have been involved in ecological research, environmental protection, and regional efforts to ensure ecological security across Central Asia. Over the years, Xinjiang scientists have repeatedly crossed borders, overcoming language barriers, to introduce new technologies, equipment, and plant varieties to the region.
Collaborating with scientists from Central Asia, they translated research findings into practical solutions aimed at improving shared ecosystems.
Li Yaoming noted that ecosystems transcend borders. “Protecting our planet is the shared responsibility of humanity.”
And this is mutually beneficial cooperation.
While Chinese researchers share their expertise with Central Asian countries, they also gain the opportunity to test and refine their technologies in a larger, more complex environment. Field testing in these regions provides data and insights that can also help accelerate technological development and further innovation.
According to Li Yaoming, this not only promotes scientific development, but also involves strategic trust and new forms of cooperation.
The year 2025 has been declared the “Year of Sustainable Development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)”. As partners within the SCO, China and the SCO member states in Central Asia are actively expanding their scientific and technological cooperation for sustainable development.
Qiao Jianfang, head of the international cooperation department of the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, shared that the planned joint projects will be expanded to include remote sensing, big data and photovoltaic technologies.
Training qualified specialists is another key priority. “We have trained 97 masters and doctoral students from Central Asia,” Qiao Jianfang said, adding that the number will continue to grow. -0-
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