WUHAN, May 10 (Xinhua) -- A center in Africa is working to "create a green environment" along the Belt and Road. 

The Sino-Africa Joint Research Center (SAJRC) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences has been helping with biodiversity, water and ecological environmental monitoring, agriculture, disease prevention, etc. in Africa, said SAJORC director Wang Qingfeng in a press conference.

"Our goal is that a beautiful China and a green Africa develop together," Wang said.

Scientists from the center have conducted six large-scale field surveys since January 2016, with a website and a book on plants to be published this year, he said.

"We have also been planting hybrid rice and sweet sorghum there, which both have high yields," Wang added.

Wang said that what the center did, not only improves environment, but also strengthens mutual understanding.

The center was established in May 2013. It is located in the campus of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in Kenya.