Australia, China to work together on depolluting Poyang Lake

BEIJING: Chinese and Australian scientists are set to work together to reduce pollution in the Poyang Lake, China's largest freshwater lake, state media reported.

The joint drive is being carried out under a scientific cooperation program, Li Rongfang, president of the Chinese institute was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.

Scientists from the two sides will endeavour to reduce pollution in the Poyang Lake and recycle those nutrient elements, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, Li said.

The program will last for three years with an estimated investment of $1.2 million, he said, adding related scientific studies have started last month.

The Poyang Lake, in east China's Jiangxi Province, covers 3,583 square km with 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, the country's longest river.

Due to fast economic development in recent years, the freshwater lake has faced the threat of industrial and agricultural waste water pollution.