Sino-Russia Workshop on Research and Protection of Amphibians and Reptiles in Europe and Asia: Current Situation and Research Cooperation was held in St. Petersburg, Russia, July 29 to August 2, 2009. This workshop was sponsored by both NSFC (National Natural Science Foundation of China) and RFBR ( Russia Foundation of Basic Research), hosted by Russia Academy of Sciences together with CIB. More than 30 scientists from Russia Academy of Sciences, CIB, Russia Animal Museum (The Tula Regional Exotarium), Hainan Normal University, Nanjing Normal University etc. attended this workshop.  

Opening ceremony was presided over by secretary-general doctor Larissa K. Iohanssen from Animal Institute of Russia Academy of Science. Academician Prof. Natalia B. Ananjevadeputy, deputy director of Animal Institute of RAS, president of European Association of Amphibians and Reptiles and Prof.Ji Xiang, chairman of herpetological branch in China Zoological Society addressed this meeting showing warm congratulations. Afterwards, the present experts made deep discussions around topics such as phylogenetic reconstruction of some important populations, biodiversity conservation, the possibility to establish a database shared by both sides, as well as the effect of Qinghai-Tibet plateau uplift and Central Asia desertification on lizards distribution patterns in Eurasia desert. Additionally, a series of wonderful lectures on genealogy geography, animal behavior, reproductive biology were made. Finally, it was agreed that the communications and exchanges should be strengthened in the future, as more and more cooperation will be carried out.