An intelligent AI driven weather forecasting system for Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) partner countries, was recently launched in China.

Initiated by the Ministry of Science and Technology and led by the Earth system numerical prediction center at the China Meteorological Administration (CMA), the forecasting system demonstration project focused on the urgent needs of BRI partner countries.

Relying on China's technological accumulation in AI, meteorological satellites, and numerical forecasting, it will build an all-day intelligent meteorological forecasting system, and upgrade the cooperation mechanism from single-way technology transfer to joint R&D and capacity building.

Han Wei, project leader and deputy chief engineer of the Earth system numerical prediction center at the CMA, said the project promotes the localization and application of AI technology in the BRI partner countries, through various means such as joint research and development, data sharing, and application demonstrations.

The project plans to develop five core AI models, covering key areas such as intelligent fusion of multi-sphere observations, intelligent short-term and near-term forecasting, and regional downscaling. At the same time, it will develop an intelligent weather forecast all-in-one machine that can flexibly adapt to the infrastructure of different countries.

To be deployed in six countries and operate stably for more than six months, the project is expected to provide meteorological disaster warning services to approximately 10 million people. A joint laboratory will be established to help BRI partner countries build their local meteorological science and technology capabilities.

The project's core AI models will be integrated into MAZU, the meteorological early warning business platform already in use in countries such as Pakistan and Ethiopia, and relying on this mature technical foundation, systematic services will be provided to BRI partner countries.

This project is jointly implemented by nine domestic institutions and universities including Lanzhou University, Renmin University of China and the National Climate Center, as well as meteorological departments and research institutes from five BRI partner countries, namely Mongolia, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.