The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has recently signed agreements with a group of Uzbek research institutes to strengthen cooperation on the ecological restoration of the Aral Sea, the Guang Ming Daily reported Thursday.

The Aral Sea, lying between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, was once the world's fourth largest body of inland water but has shrunk remarkably in recent years due to climate change and increasing human activities.

Scientists from both sides agreed that the impact of the Aral Sea ecological problems can be reduced by the use of technologies. Having advanced knowledge and technologies in agricultural water saving, ecological restoration, desertification control, biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of water resources, China is willing to provide its experiences to Central Asian countries, the newspaper said.

According to the agreements, the CAS will build joint laboratories with Uzbek institutions and universities, as well as carry out further cooperation in various fields including ecological environment monitoring, biological resources exploitation and saline land improvement.

Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography under the CAS has worked with Uzbek scientists on a number of research projects over the years. It has established three field stations, an agricultural experiment demonstration area and carried out a number of research projects in Uzbekistan, said Chen Xi, a researcher with the institute. (Xinhua)