Xinhua News Agency, Colombo, October 24 (reporter Chen Dongshu and Wu Ziyu) The 10th China Sri Lanka Joint Seminar on Climate Change and Marine Sustainable Development and the 10th Anniversary Ceremony of the China Sri Lanka Joint Science and Education Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences was held in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, from 23 to 24. More than 200 experts and scholars from research institutions, universities, and enterprises in China, Sri Lanka, Australia, Maldives, and other countries had in-depth exchanges on topics such as climate change, marine ecological protection, and sustainable development.
This seminar focuses on the impact of climate change on the Indian Ocean marine system, ecological environment monitoring, coastal disaster prevention and control, water resource management, and the implementation of sustainable development goals. Experts in attendance gave over 40 presentations, covering topics such as “Indian Ocean Climate Change and Ecological Environment Response,” “Agriculture and Water Resources Planning under Climate Change in Sri Lanka,” and “Clean Water and Green Future: Innovation in Water Treatment and Reuse.
The seminar also reviewed the 10-year development of the China Sri Lanka Joint Science and Education Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Since its establishment in 2015, the center has closely cooperated between China and Sri Lanka in areas such as Indian Ocean ocean observation, marine disaster warning and forecasting, clean drinking water, and talent cultivation, achieving fruitful results and providing technological support for Sri Lanka to address climate change and achieve multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Zhu Yanwei, a counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka, stated in his speech that cooperation in science and technology, ocean and other fields is an important part of the friendly cooperation between China and Sri Lanka. China is willing to work more closely with Sri Lanka to promote high-quality cooperation on the “the Belt and Road” and achieve more results, and strive to create a new situation of China Sri Lanka scientific and technological cooperation for the benefit of the two peoples.
During the conference, scientists from multiple countries including Sri Lanka, Australia, Maldives, Pakistan, and China jointly released the “Indian Ocean Climate Change and Ecological Environment Response Action Plan”.
The seminar was hosted by the China Sri Lanka Joint Science and Education Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and organized by the South China Sea Institute of Oceanography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Ecological Environment Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Luhuna University, Sri Lanka and other institutions.