The International Webinar on Big Data Analysis and Forecast for the COVID-19 Pandemic was held on August 31, 2020. This workshop was hosted by ANSO, co-organized by the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research/CAS, the Computer Network Information Center/CAS, Academy of Mathematics and Systems Science/CAS and City University of Hong Kong (CityU). The objective of this workshop is to explore the big data and information analysis methods on prediction of the spreading trend of the COVID-19 pandemic in various countries by enhancing the information exchange and international cooperation. About 70 scientists and experts from Asia, Europe, Africa and America participated in this workshop.

To support the science-based decision-makings in combating the COVID-19 pandemic, the first trial of the ANSO Pandemic Forecast Information Platform (ANSO-PFIP http://www.covda.tpdc.ac.cn/about_us) is developed by Prof. Xin Li from National Tibetan Plateau Data Center (TPDC) of ITP/CAS and his team. The mission of this system is to provide a short and long term forecast for about 50 countries seriously influenced by COVID-19, and a visualized user-friendly platform for policy makers and publics. More research groups and scientists will join this activity in the future.

Prof. David James Molden, Director General of the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) gave an opening speech emphasizing the importance of joint efforts to cope with the global challenges like COVID-19 pandemic and climate change. Prof. Jinghua Cao, Executive Director of the ANSO Secretariat, pointed out the unprecedented changes and damages that COVID-19 brought to the world, calling for regional and global solidarity, cooperation and multilateralism. Prof. Xin Li gave a detailed introduction on the ANSO COVID-19 Pandemic Forecasting system developed by his team.   

The participants discussed the important issues related to COVID-19 and its predictability, and exchanged their views for the future cooperation. Information exchanges among ANSO members and partners would be strengthened, and some of the key countries will be focused in the future.