A Kazakhstan-China joint earthquake research center has begun operations in Almaty, reports infohub.kz.
The opening ceremony was attended by Minister of Emergency Situations Chingis Arinov, Almaty Mayor Darkhan Satybaldy, and Chinese Consul General in Almaty Su Fangqiu.
According to the city administration, the new platform will combine the efforts of Kazakh and Chinese scientists in seismology. It will focus on developing technologies for monitoring, forecasting, and early warning of earthquakes. Joint research will allow the introduction of modern scientific developments, exchange of experience, and improvement of seismic safety in the city and region, the administration emphasized.
According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Kazakh side has already created the necessary infrastructure for the center. The National Scientific Center for Seismology now includes an Earthquake Research Center with three specialized laboratories. Their profile matches the model of the future joint center, allowing joint research to begin immediately.
As part of the cooperation, the National Scientific Center for Seismological Observations and Research of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Kazakhstan and the Institute of Geophysics of the China Earthquake Administration signed a memorandum of understanding in geophysics and seismology.
It is worth recalling that following recent talks between President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and President of China Xi Jinping in Astana, 24 intergovernmental and interagency documents were signed, including an agreement to establish the center.
Earlier it was reported that at the end of July, residents of Almaty felt tremors, and the Ministry of Emergency Situations reminded about the need to have an emergency kit.