China's overseas climate observatory begins operations in Central Asia

By Esra Tekin

ISTANBUL (AA) - China’s first overseas climate and environment observatory, what Beijing calls “super,” has begun operations in Central Asia along the border with Afghanistan.

Initiated by Lanzhou University in 2016, the observatory is part of China’s multi-trillion dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) climate and environment observation network.

The station is located in the southwestern Shaartuz area of Tajikistan and commenced gathering “comprehensive data on dust, pollutants, and meteorological elements in key areas of Central Asia” over the weekend, Beijing-based Xinhua News reported.

Academic with the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Professor at Lanzhou University, Huang Jianping, said: “The station is capable of providing meteorological disaster warnings and climate change countermeasures.”

The BRI network has designated 29 stations across member nations and regions, starting from Lanzhou city in northwestern Gansu province.

Seven stations in China and one in Peshawar city of Pakistan have already been launched.

- Largest wind energy turbine begins operations in China

World’s largest wind energy-producing turbine began operations in China on Wednesday.

The 16-megawatt offshore wind turbine began operations in southeast China’s Fujian province, broadcaster CGTN reported.

It has been connected to China’s national grid.

China accounts for nearly 53% of global offshore wind energy, around 57.6 gigawatts.