China is deepening cooperation on astronomical observation and research with neighboring countries, especially those along the Belt and Road, with a series of mutual and multilateral moves underway, according to information from National Astronomical Observatories (NAOC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. 

A recent meeting jointly organized by NAOC and Ulugh Beg Astronomical Institute (UBAI) of the Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences brought together dozens of participants from 18 institutes and universities of seven countries, discussing further collaboration between Uzbekistan, Russia, Ukraine, Türkiye, Korea, Japan and China.

The Fifth Maidanak Users Meeting (MUM), held in Beijing last week, dedicated a special session to discussions on the installation of a 4-m telescope at Maidanak observatory. This idea was suggested by Organization of Islamic Cooperation and supported by the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyaev. 

NAOC and UBAI signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Scientific and Instrumental Collaborations on March 21, 2014, which marks a step forward in the field of Sino-Uzbek astronomy, in particular, in optical/near infrared astronomy and subsequent instrument upgrades, time-domain astronomy, history of astronomy, personnel training, and information exchange. 

NAOC has completed the upgrade of the MAO (Maidanak Astronomical Observatory) 1-m telescope last year. The telescope will start to collect scientific data recently.  

"All these activities have been strengthening the communication and collaboration on astronomy among China and participating countries, especially the Belt and Road countries," said XUE Suijian, deputy director-general of NAOC. 

Maidanak Astronomical Observatory is an observational facility of UBAI. The observatory is unique due to its geographical location at the mid distance between the world main astronomical facilities at the Canaries and the Hawaii as well as to its high quality atmospheric conditions (astroclimate).

The total amount of clear night time is 2000 hours with median seeing of 0.70 arcsec. It makes Maidanak a very useful and critical site for various observing programs required continuous monitoring of astrophysical objects.