On August 6^th and 7^th, a research team of four scientists led by Dr. Marina from Djanybeck Biological Soil Experiment Station of Institute of Forest Science, Russian Academy of Sciences, accompanied by Drs. Qinxiao Wu and Guoliang Wang, visited the Ansai station. They visited the plain area, sloping area and runoff plot with stimulator in the soil and water conservation area of Ansai station, and they also visited the long-term ecological and hydrological monitoring system in the forest ecological and hydrological research area of Yichuan. Dr. Qinxiao Wu and Dr. Guoliang Wang introduced on-going research projects and progress of Ansai and Yichuan stations, respectively. The guest expressed great interests in the long-term monitoring system and related research and raised many questions and suggestions. The two sides discussed on the common issue of the plantation management in the semi-arid areas in both countries, and on how to further strengthen collaborations on the project "cooperative research on plantation development and ecological effects in semi-arid areas of china and Russia", which is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation International (regional) cooperation and exchange.

From April 25^th to May 5th 2008, Drs. JuYing Jiao, Guoliang Wang and Wenzhao Liu of our Institute, visited Institute of Forest Science, and its Subordinate Djanybeck Biological Soil Experimental Station, Russian Academy of Sciences. They also visited the Departments of Geography and Soil of Moscow University.