A Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) official told a press conference in Tianjin on Saturday that it will be launching joint research into ecology and industry around Lake Baikal with the Russian Academy of Sciences next month.

Chen Zhu, vice-president of the CAS, said, "It marks a major step in strengthening Sino-Russian ties in the sciences, and will serve as a platform for our long-term partnership."

The upcoming investigation, to be conducted by 15 experts from the CAS and seven from the Siberia Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences from August 9 to 30, is the largest on-site joint scientific activity ever held by the two neighbors.

According to the CAS, the project will collect information on the climate, forestry and hydrobiology of the Baikal area.

Experts from both countries will research the influence of the regional climate in Baikal upon the climate of northern China, which has been greatly affected by frequent climate changes in Siberia.

Another focus for the investigation is a comparative study of industrial enterprises in the Baikal region and China's northeast, which it is hoped will help revitalize heavy industry in the latter as well as deepening bilateral relations.

The two countries' academies of science have been involved in joint work for decades, and the CAS solicited Chinese institutions for their interest in participating in the Baikal project last November.

Lake Baikal is located in the southern part of eastern Siberia. It is the oldest freshwater lake on earth, as well as the deepest continental body of water, having a maximum depth of 1,620 meters and an area of 31,500 square kilometers.

The lake contains 20 percent of the planet's freshwater and more endemic species of plants and animals than any other in the world. Fed by 336 rivers and streams including the Angara, Barguzin, Selenga, Turka and Snezhnaya, it holds 50 species of fish including bullhead, sturgeon and omul.

(China Daily July 18, 2005)