Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The Central Asian University for Environmental Studies and Climate Change (Green University) hosted the opening ceremony of a comprehensive scientific expedition on the ecology and environment of the drained Aral Sea bed.

This expedition was organized by the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of Uzbekistan, the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The event was attended by Aziz Abdukhakimov, Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change, Yu Jun, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Uzbekistan, Professor Zhang Yuanming, Director of the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, and Professor Shakhlo Turdikulova, Vice President of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, along with scientists from China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Japan, and other countries.

In his opening remarks, Aziz Abdukhakimov highlighted the expedition’s crucial role in understanding and mitigating the negative environmental impacts of the ecological crisis in the Aral Sea region.

"The expedition that has started today marks another significant step forward in the in-depth study of the Aral Sea region based on a scientific approach and research. I am confident that joint efforts and scientific collaboration will yield substantial results and lay the foundation for new environmental projects and initiatives in the region in the future," the minister said.

It is noteworthy that the expedition is being conducted in line with the consistent policy of the country’s government, led by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, aimed at restoring the ecosystem of the region and mitigating the consequences of the environmental crisis caused by the drying up of the Aral Sea. The expedition plans to conduct research focused on studying changes in the ecosystem, soil, and the state of biodiversity in the region.

"Our expedition has several scientific goals. This includes studying the biodiversity of microorganisms, soil composition, and mineral deposits. Currently, we see that the accumulated salt from the Aral Sea bed is spreading not only to nearby regions but also to China, the West, and other distant areas. We are confident that the data collected during the expedition will be useful in decision-making by our governments on stabilizing the environmental situation," said Shakhlo Turdikulova during the ceremony.

During the event, flags were presented to representatives of the organizing institutions, including the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography and the Institute of Botany of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, symbolizing the official start of the expedition.

The event concluded with a session that allowed team members to have informal discussions and lay the groundwork for their joint efforts in the upcoming expedition.