The French research schooner Tara
approached the sea off the coast of Xiamen Monday morning, starting an
eight-day visit to the eastern Chinese city to raise awareness about marine
environmental protection, especially reef preservation.
The stopover was part of Tara's
100,000-km Pacific expedition focusing on research on coral reefs and climate
change. The science vessel has traveled 60,000 km since 2016, collecting 25,000
research samples.
According to Xiamen University, one of
the organizers of Tara's Xiamen visit, seminars, exhibitions and other
activities will be held.
The highlight of Tara's visit will be a
public open day co-hosted by Tara and Chinese research vessel Tan Kah Kee,
which was named in memory of patriotic overseas Chinese businessman and
philanthropist Tan Kah Kee, who established Xiamen University in 1921.
According to a press conference held by
the French consulate in Shanghai last month, Tara is scheduled to visit Sanya,
Hong Kong, Keelung,Xiamen and Shanghai during its first China visit, which
began Feb. 24. It will leave Shanghai on April 29.