It is the first time for the Chinese and Japanese women's climbers to cooperate in conquering 8,000m-plus-high mount. And it is also the first time in world mountaineering history that a sheer women's team tries such a high peak.

The major aim of this action is to mark the 30th anniversary of normalization of the China-Japan relations and to enhance the sports and cultural exchanges and cooperation between the two countries.

According to a source at the main base camp, the China-Japan women's team is the first squad to climb Mount Qowowuyag in this season. Most of the climbers are in good health although a few members were hit by cold slightly. They have set up four big tents.

So far, the mountainous area is covered by heavy snow and strong wind. But good weather is expected to come, the source added.

The joint team comprises five Tibetan and six Japanese climbers. Gui Sang, the captain of the Chinese side, said while leaving Lhasa," We have great confidence in conquering Mount Qowowuyag, although there exist certain risks in the climbing."

Gui Sang said that among the Chinese climbers, one had climbed up the 8,848.13-meter-high Mount Qomolangma, the world's highest peak, and two had conquered the 8,012-meter-high Mount Xixibangma.

Qowowuyga, which is located in the Dingri county of Tibet, was firstly conquered by an Austrian team on October 19, 1954. Tibetan climbers stepped on the peak in 1985 and 1994 respectively.

A joint team of men's Chinese, Japanese and Nepalese climbers had successfully gone up and down Mount Qomolangma from different sides of the peak in 1985.

(Xinhua News Agency August 26, 2002)