Consistent efforts of some 590 Chinese and French geologists over
the past 20 years have uncovered the mystery of the Qinghai-Tibet
Plateau.
"The cooperation between China and France in the field have been
successful and fruitful," Shou Jiahua, vice-minister of Land and
Resources, said Friday at a seminar commemorating the 20th
anniversary of China's largest international cooperation in
geological studies.
The scientists' research has contributed to an all but complete
picture of the region, exploring its geologic make-up, the
earthquake belt that runs through it, and its geothermal resources
and karst distribution patterns.
The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is situated on the border where the
India-Australia and European-Asia stectonic plates meet and has
long been regarded as being unsuitable for geological research.
The Sino-French research team has expanded its efforts to vast
sections of western and southern China as well as some regions in
the country's eastern part.
It
is believed the data the team has collected over the past two
decades will greatly facilitate China's development of its western
region, Shou said.
(Xinhua 10/07/2000)