To give full play to the platform role of the "Caspian Sea Ecosystem International Research Center (Caspian Sea Center)", the Research Center for Ecology and Environment of Central Asia (RCEECA) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences organized and held a Seminar on Caspian Sea Ecosystem Cooperative Research on November 24, Chen Xi, Secretary of the Party Group of the Xinjiang Branch of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Director of RECCCA, attended the seminar, and Liu Wenjiang, Executive Deputy Director of RCEECA, presided over it, experts from the Institute of Geography, the Institute of Geography & Limnology, the Institute of Qinghai- Tibet, the Institute of Earth Environment, the Institute of Oceanology, the Institute of Atmosphere and the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography attended the conference by online video.

At the conference, Liu Wenjiang comprehensively reviewed the work progress and phased objectives in personnel exchange visits, jointly held conferences, technical training, and field station construction with relevant Iranian Universities based on the RCEECA Platform, introduced the establishment background, participating institutions, and research contents of the Caspian Sea Center, and reported the key areas and key contents of the Caspian Sea ecosystem assessment research suggestions.

Focusing on the Caspian Sea ecosystem research and in combination with their respective professional fields, the participating experts shared and exchanged ideas and suggestions on literature collection and sorting, existing work basis, and research priorities, and unanimously expressed their full support and active participation in the relevant work of “Caspian Sea Ecosystem International Research Center”, to jointly promote the faster and better development of the Caspian Sea Center and the implementation of China-Iran cooperation.

On the summary speech of the conference, Chen Xi expressed gratitude for the participation and support of associate organizations and experts, stressed the importance and urgency of the Caspian Sea ecosystem research, and proposed to carry out planning and organization of research contents and cooperative teams from three aspects of terrestrial ecosystem, lake ecosystem and regional climate change in combination with existing work basis and research results, at the same time, it is suggested to pay attention to the recruitment and training of foreign students and the cooperation with the Caspian Sea University Alliance to serve the construction of the Green Silk Road.

The "Caspian Sea Ecosystem International Research Center" jointly built by RCEECA and Gilan University in Iran was established on November 9, 2021, Zhang Yaping, Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Sarar Amori, Vice Minister of Ministry of Science and Technology in Iran attended the establishment ceremony and witnessed the signing of the memorandum of cooperation and the opening of the Center. The Caspian Sea Center aims to promote academic exchanges and cooperative research related to regional ecosystems, strengthen talent training and knowledge communication, and serve regional climate change response, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development.

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