On December 17, after five years of joint scientific research, Chinese and Uzbek scientists revealed key factors behind the shrinking of the Aral Sea over the past 20 years, which include climate change and a lack of water-saving technology in farmlands (Xinhua). The Aral Sea, located between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, was once the world’s fourth-largest inland waterbody. It has shrunk remarkably since 1960 -- with its surface area dwindling from 67,000 square km in 1960 to just 6,000 square km in 2020. Scientists from China and Uzbekistan have proposed a plan for the ecological restoration of dried lake areas. They divided the Aral Sea into sections, each of which will be treated differently. Water-saving technology is an important means of addressing environmental issues in Central Asian countries. Cotton cultivation consumes 60% of Uzbekistan's water resources. Efficient water-saving technologies can save Uzbekistan 8 to 10 billion cubic meters of water per year, which can be used for industrial development and Aral Sea restoration.

On December 19, the Belt and Road News Network's (BRNN) Second Council Meeting was held in Beijing (People’s Daily). Representatives of 38 council members of the BRNN from 23 countries took part in the meeting in online and offline formats. Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee delivered a speech at the meeting via video link. As the BRNN council chair, the People’s Daily delivered a report on the work of the first BRNN council. Representatives of the council members of the BRNN expressed their opinions and made suggestions on how to better promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges and people-to-people connectivity. The meeting also announced the winners of the first Silk Road Global News Awards. A total of 19 works won five types of awards, including the In-depth Reporting Award, Commentary Award, Press Photo Award, Press Video Award, and the Short Video Award on the fight against COVID-19.

On December 20, China's envoy to the UN called for more international support for Afghanistan as the country is at a critical stage of nation-building (CNR) and much remains to be done for the realization of peace and development in the country. “Afghan people should not be forgotten. The international community should make greater efforts to provide more support and assistance”, said Zhang Jun, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations. “The international community should maintain unity and cooperation, abandon double standards and politicization, help Afghanistan effectively fight terrorism and organized crime, and resolve to prevent Afghanistan from, once again, becoming a hub for terrorist organizations,” he added. According to him, the substantial reduction of donor aid from developed countries leading to a shortage of humanitarian supplies is an important element resulting in the current Afghan predicament, while unilateral sanctions create obstacles to humanitarian assistance.

On December 22, Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and visiting President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed agreements on union (allied) relations and the demarcation of the Uzbek-Kazakh border (China News Service). “The agreement on the demarcation of the state border testifies to the strength of our ties and serves the cause of peace and security in the region,” Mirziyoyev was quoted saying, adding “Our border has always been and remains the border of friendship and good neighborliness.” The delegations of the two sides also signed 15 intergovernmental agreements and other documents to boost trade, and cooperation in energy, chemical industry, transport and logistics sectors, worth 8 billion U.S. dollars. The annual trade volume between the two Central Asian states is expected to reach 5 billion dollars by the end of this year.