Thousands of rural residents in Kyrgyzstan now have access to safe drinking water, thanks to a groundbreaking partnership between Kyrgyzstan and Chinese research institutions. The initiative, led by Kyrgyz national geographer Salamat Kulombekovich Alamanov, involves collaboration with the Research Center for Ecology and Environment of Central Asia (RCEECA), a joint partnership with China, to introduce water purification systems to Kyrgyzstan. So far, 11 such purification systems have been installed in seven regions, providing 20,000 people with clean drinking water. One of the purification systems is located at the center for the elderly and the disabled in the village of Nijnaya Serafimovka, 35 kilometers southeast of the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek. Villagers there used to collect water from streams and canals stemming from the Naryn river. The situation has undergone a remarkable transformation, bringing tangible benefits to the local community. Apart from water purification projects, China's Luban Workshop, named after the renowned ancient Chinese craftsman and inventor Lu Ban, is also empowering students at Kyrgyz State Technical University by offering training in water resource management to strengthen local capacity. Shotlist: Nijnaya Serafimovka Village, Kyrgyzstan - Recent: 1. Residents walking in village; 2. Various of village houses; 3. Various of water in river; 4. Various of Kyrgyz national geographer Salamat Kulombekovich Alamanov introducing water purification system; facilities; 5. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Salamat Kulombekovich Alamanov, Kyrgyz national geographer (starting with shot 4/ending with shot 6): "Based on the results of my many years of research into the quality of water in expeditionary conditions, in Kyrgyzstan we do not have a single body of clean water that is suitable for a drinking water supply."; 6. Various of water; 7. Various of Alamanov introducing water purification system; facilities; 8. Aerial shots of center for elderly and disabled; 9. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Salamat Kulombekovich Alamanov, Kyrgyz national geographer (starting with shot 8/partially overlaid with shots 10-11): "In cooperation with the institutes of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, specifically with the Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, we installed these systems in different villages in our country. There are eleven such systems installed in seven regions of Kyrgyzstan."; [SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 10. Plaques on water purification system; 11. National flag of Kyrgyzstan at center for elderly and disabled; [SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 12. Various of water purification facilities; Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan - Recent 13. Aerial shot of building; 14. Sign showing "Luban Workshop"; 15. Various of class in progress, students. [Restriction - No access Chinese mainland]