A 14-member team of Chinese and Russian scientists arrived in the Tunkinsky region of the Russian Republic of Buryatia Saturday on a joint scientific expedition in Siberia.

Meanwhile, other scientists of a larger Chinese-Russian group, which includes the 14-member team, began studies on zoology, regional economy and aquatic biology in other parts of Buryatia.

The 14 scientists conducted studies on the geological composition and collected some rock samples before they arrived at Arshan in the Tunkinsky region of Buryatia on Saturday.

The scientists were scheduled to go deep into primary forests in Buryatia in the coming days to collect data on timber and mineral resources of the forests.

They would also meet local officials to explore ways of expanding cooperation between China and Russia at regional level.

A 32-member group of Chinese scientists arrived in Russia on July 19 to join Russian scientists in studying mineral resources in Siberia.
  
The Sino-Russian joint expedition is part of China's Year of Russia programs designed to bolster bilateral relations in all fields.

The Siberia tour is regarded as an extension of last year's Sino-Russian expedition of the Lake of Baikal in Russia. In August 2005, a group of Chinese and Russian scientists conducted the first Sino-Russian joint expedition for the study of aquatic animals and biology in the area.

(Xinhua News Agency July 24, 2006)