China, Australia in Joint Clean-up Effort

  Chinese and Australian scientists are working together to reduce pollution in Poyang Lake, China's largest freshwater lake. The lake, in eastern China's Jiangxi Province, covers 3,583 square kilometers and has an average water depth of 8.4 meters. It is fed by five rivers in Jiangxi and empties into the lower reaches of the Yangtze, China's longest river. The rapid economic development of recent years means that Poyang Lake is menaced by pollution from industrial and agricultural wastewater. The joint clean-up initiative is being actioned under a scientific cooperation program between the Jiangxi Provincial Water Conservancy Research Institute and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization in Australia. Scientists from the two signatory sides will endeavor to reduce pollution in Poyang Lake and recycle nutrient elements such as nitrogen and phosphorus. The program is of three years duration and will cost an estimated RMB 8 million.