A news feature in Renmin Daily celebrates 40 years of collaborative research between Prof. Lonnie G. Thompson (Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center, Ohio State University) and Chinese scientists, notably Academician Tandong Yao. 29 joint scientific expeditions provided an abundance of record achievements:  the first deep ice core from the Dunde ice cap on Mt Qilian; the longest ice core in the low- and middle-latitudes from the Guliya ice cap in the West Kunlun Mountains; the highest elevation ice core drilled at Xixia Bangma Peak, to name but a few. The scientific insight offered by these expeditions is vast, as is the number of early career scientists who were trained. 

But more than providing a tale of exploration and scientific achievements, the article highlights deeper themes: the importance of enduring international cooperation and friendship. Indeed, these 40 years of China-US collaborations (or friendship between Lonnie and Tandong) serve as a model of equality and mutual benefit that should be replicated. Science knows no borders, and only with ongoing collaborations can Earth System change in the Third Pole region be fully understood and addressed—to the benefit of all.

Of course, these themes are central to TPE’s mission, and we hope such fruitful collaborations will continue and expand in the future. 

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