Chinese scientists have completed the upgrade of a 1-meter telescope at the Maidanak Astronomical Observatory in Uzbekistan, according to Zhu Yongtian, deputy director of China’s National Astronomical Observatories. The project is part of the scientific cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. It is the first such project between China and a central Asian country.

Starting from 2014, around 10 workers from the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences carried out work in Maidanak to upgrade the telescope. After the upgrade, the telescope has become a modern tool, boasting high-precision tracking and automated control. The Chinese workers also built a PV power station at the observatory to supply energy to the telescope.

Zhu said that Maidanak is an ideal place for astronomical observations. After the telescope is put into operation, Chinese scientists will be able to utilize 70 percent of its observation time for five years.

Zhu predicts that China will enter more international cooperation in the field of astronomy in the near future. China has already received invitations for similar cooperation agreements to upgrade telescopes and other instruments in Egypt and the U.S.