ISL's strong involvement in international cooperation is represented by the following:

    1. Development of Overseas Salt Resources in Cooperation with Domestic Companies

    ISL has founded the Research Center of Exploration and Comprehensive Utilization Engineering of Salt Mineral Deposits jointly with Yuntianhua Group Corporation, and launched full-scale investigations on the cooperative project of developing Laotian potassium mines. In November 2007, two projects named "Supplementary Exploration of Sylvite Deposits in the Ore Blocks of Nondhau and Thongmang Vientiane, Laos" and" Comprehensive Utilization of Laotian Tertiary Potassium Deposits". Sampling and analysis for exploration have been executed; Laboratory and scale-up tests have been performed in developing the corresponding process for utilizing Laotian potassium magnesium salt mines; and the design of test facilities with a capacity of 50,000 tons of KCl per annum has been completed. At present, the construction of the production facilities is underway. It is estimated that test runs after construction completion can be carried out in late 2010. In the coming years, KCl facilities with a capacity of 1 million tons KCl per annum utilizing Laotian potassium magnesium salt deposits will be constructed based on successful operation of the current 5 tpa facilities.

    In the meantime, ISL is making preparation for developing potassium resources in Central Asia by jointly cooperating with CITIC Int'l.

    2. Studies on Paleo-environmental Evolution of Qinghai–Tibet Plateau in Collaboration with Overseas Universities and Institutes

    For years, ISL researchers have been engaged in researches on paleo-environmental evolution of Qinghai–Tibet Plateau in collaboration with foreign scientists from UCLA, Denver desert Institute, and University of Texas.

    ISL is cooperating with Huber Engineered Materials (USA) in developing and testing high-end magnesium oxide retardants. Negotiations are going on.

    Meantime, ISL scientists have been extensively cooperating with scientists from USA, Germany, France, Israel, and UK in salt lake geological chronology and salt lake materials sciences, which has significantly promoted ISL levels of research.