On January 17(local time), "Xiangyanghong 06" scientific expedition vessel of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the People's Republic of China arrived in Colombo for the second time, marking the successful completion of the two-week joint scientific expedition on ocean and ecology by China and Sri Lanka in exclusive economic zone of Sri Lanka.
      In this scientific expedition, SIO with 8 scientific research institutions from China and 2 scientific research institutions from Sri Lanka conducted comprehensive joint scientific expedition on hydrology, meteorology, biology, chemistry, optics, etc. in the exclusive economic zone at southern and eastern sides of Sri Lanka within two weeks. As results, achievements include: ocean profile data from 33 observation stations; 2 sets of Argo; 23 sets of drifting buoys; 26 sets of upper chemical multi-parameter profiles; 36 sets of comprehensive meteorological data from survey stations; phytoplankton and primary productivity data from 7 survey stations; 6 sets of sediment samples from deep-ocean observation stations; 3 sets of deep-ocean multi-network samples; optical data from 25 observation stations; and large numbers of water samples as well as full-range observations on ocean currents, water depth, and partial pressure of carbon dioxide. Team members from Sri Lanka and China worked together in most of the sampling process. For these multidisciplinary data, the first batch of original electronic data has been handed over to the Sri Lanka side for sharing as planned and subsequent data will be also handed over after a year of laboratory incubation, analysis, calibration, and other treatments.
      According to introduction from ZHOU Feng, the Chief Scientist of the project, Sri Lanka is an important developing country along the Maritime Silk Road; Sri Lanka has conducted joint scientific expeditions with many countries in open sea of the Indian Ocean; while the exclusive economic zone of Sri Lanka is still rarely touched. Our institute promoted numerous preliminary preparations and bilateral discussions under the guidance of "Support the Belt and Road Initiative, Cooperate in Marine Ecology Research". Finally, the survey plan got approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka. The project was launched under witness of Liu Dong, Chinese Counselor resided in Sri Lanka Embassy, Zoysa, Chief Director of National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency of Sri Lanka, and other participants both from China and Sri Lanka.
      This China-Sri Lanka joint voyage in the exclusive economic zone of Sri Lanka does not only implement the commitments on ocean cooperation in the 2016 joint statements between the leaders of the two countries, but also is a sound opportunity to promote cooperation between the two countries on future in-depth research of the Indian Ocean monsoon, climate change, marine ecological environmental change, promoting marine talents cultivation, etc.