Almaty is strengthening its scientific capacity in seismic safety. The city has opened the building of the future Kazakhstan-China Joint Earthquake Research Center, which will focus on studying seismic processes, monitoring earthquake activity and developing modern forecasting methods, DKNews.kz reports.
The opening ceremony was attended by Kazakhstan’s Minister of Emergency Situations, Lieutenant General Chingis Arinov, Almaty Mayor Darkhan Satybaldy, and Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Almaty Su Fangqiu.
Representatives of the Institute of Geophysics under the China Earthquake Administration, government agencies, the scientific community and invited guests also took part in the event.
What kind of center will be created in Almaty
Kazakhstan has already established the infrastructure required for the future joint center.
The Kazakhstan-China Joint Earthquake Research Center is expected to be formally established after the two countries sign the relevant intergovernmental agreement. However, scientific cooperation will begin before all formal procedures are completed.
For this purpose, an Earthquake Research Center has already been established within the National Scientific Center for Seismological Observations and Research. It includes three specialized laboratories.
The laboratories’ functions correspond to the planned operating model of the future joint center, allowing Kazakh and Chinese scientists to begin collaborative research at the current stage.
Kazakhstan and China combine scientific resources
As part of the project, the National Scientific Center for Seismological Observations and Research under Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations and the Institute of Geophysics of the China Earthquake Administration signed a Memorandum of Understanding on scientific and technical cooperation in geophysics and seismology.
The agreement will provide a framework for expanding joint research and strengthening cooperation between scientific institutions of the two countries in the study of seismic processes.
For Almaty, this area of cooperation is particularly significant. The city is located in a seismically active zone, making earthquake monitoring, analysis of underground processes and the development of research infrastructure directly linked to the safety of the metropolitan area and its millions of residents.
What the joint center will bring to Kazakhstan
One of the project’s key objectives is to develop modern methods for monitoring seismic activity.
Scientists also plan to improve approaches to earthquake research and seismic forecasting. The joint research platform will bring together the capabilities and expertise of scientific institutions in Kazakhstan and China.
The project is expected to take bilateral cooperation in seismology beyond individual research initiatives and create a permanent scientific infrastructure for long-term collaboration.
The research results are expected to contribute to the development of modern methods for monitoring and forecasting seismic activity, as well as to improving seismic safety in both Kazakhstan and China.
