Translated from www.xinhuanet.com          5^th, Sept. 2004

China’s scientific research on the Tibetan Plateau, featured by quantitative, complex and combined studies, is at a new phase. It is qualified to conduct a large-scale international cooperation, said Prof. Yao Tandong, director of ITP.

He told reporter that human first looked into the Tibetan Plateau at the second half of 19c. From then on, western scientists and explorers have studied the geology, geophysics, climate, hydrology, glaciers, animals and plants on the Plateau.

It was not until 1930s that Chinese scientists started investigation of alpine plants, geophysics and geology in that region, and laid a solid foundation for exploring natural features of the plateau. Since 1949, Chinese scientists have been there many times to investigate its natural environment and resource materials, aiming to figure out proper prevention measures against natural disasters in the socialist construction in Tibet. In 1980, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) hosted the first International Symposium on the Tibetan Plateau, attracting participants from seventeen countries and regions worldwide. This effectively boosted international cooperation of the Tibetan Plateau research. After that, a number of large scale research projects in China, represented by “the Climbing Project,” were carried out, upgrading our Tibetan Plateau research. During these periods, a new strategic plan was also put forward, calling for a turn in Tibetan Plateau research from general exploration to located investigation, from stationary study to mobilized research, from phenomenal acknowledgement to truth digging. After years’ effort, great breakthroughs have been made by Chinese scientists in geodynamics, alpine atmospheric study, alpine environment and evolution of alpine ecology.

So far, dozens of joint expeditions have been conducted since 1980s. They include Sino-France expedition to Himalayas, Sino-Japan scientific investigation to glaciers in West Mt. Kunlun, Sino-Germany glacial research on the Tibetan Plateau, Sino-UK complex geological investigation to the Tibetan Plateau and Sino-US joint study of thermo-balance on the Tibetan Plateau. These international projects have seen fruitful results.

Prof Yao added that in accordance with historical development, current trend and future demand, ITP will strengthen its role in carrying out complex and multi-disciplinary studies of key issues concerning the Tibetan Plateau, hoping to bring forth a wider range of academic exchange worldwide.