Scientists in China, the US and Russia will cooperate in cyberspace using a new high-speed computer network that includes the first direct computer link across the Russia-China border.

Developers say the network will ring the Northern Hemisphere, connecting computers in Chicago with machines in Amsterdam, Moscow, Siberia, Beijing and Hong Kong before hooking up with Chicago again.

The network project will allow scientists and educational researchers to work together on such issues as responding to natural disasters, safeguarding nuclear material, monitoring earthquakes or joint space exploration.

It is expected to go online next month.

(CRI December 25, 2003)