Recently, the Ministry of Science and Technology announced the third batch of twenty joint laboratories in relation to the Belt and Road. NWU "Belt and Road joint laboratory on China-Central Asia human and environment"is the first joint laboratory on the Belt and Road approved in Shaanxi province. It is a state-level science and technology cooperation platform with other countries approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology in accordance with the scientific and technological needs of China and countries along the Belt and Road. It aims to provide strong scientific and technological support for promoting the Belt and Road Initiative through practical cooperation between scientists from both sides. Up to now, the Ministry of Science and Technology has examined and approved 53 joint laboratories in three batches.
The Belt and Road joint laboratory on China-Central Asia human and environment is built on the basis of national A+ discipline Archaeology and world-class discipline Geology of NWU with the purpose of "based on the Silk Road, integrated development, promoting cross-cutting, leading the international". Taking cultural heritage and geological environment along the Silk Road as the research object, the Lab intends to cooperate with central-Asian top universities and academic institutions such as Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan National University, Kyrgyzstan National University, Tajikistan National University and so on. It focuses on the "geological structure - environmental change - human development - civilization heritage", reveals the co-evolution mechanism of geological structure and the environment along the Silk Road, explores the Eastern and Western civilization exchanges and mutual learning, fully integrates geographical scientific research and talent advantages along the Silk Road, strengthens research, development and integration of the key technology and innovative talent training mechanism. It targets on establishing international joint laboratory with "scientific research, platform and talent"in one and provides scientific support for promoting civilization inheritance along the “Belt and Road” countries and regions.
