On June 14 and 15, 2013, the 7th World Chinese Conference on Geological Sciences was held in our university. Academicians of CAS, Prof. Li Tingdong, Prof. Xu Zhiqin and Prof. Li Shuguang as well as about 300 Chinese geologists from many parts of the world attended the meeting, sharing their latest achievements in scientific researches.

In his speech at the opening ceremony, Meng Xianlai, Executive Vice Chairman of Geological Society of China (GSC), put forward three expectations, i.e., (1) Chinese geologists in the world would unite more tightly and strengthen academic communication to raise their academic level and capacity; (2) the younger generation of Chinese geologists should learn from the old generations of Chinese geologists and introduce the world’s advanced achievements of geo-sciences to the motherland and  the advanced achievements of China to the world, so as to contribute to the national rejuvenation; and (3) geologists in the mainland and overseas would conduct joint researches to resolve the shortage of mineral resources and alleviate the loss of human life and property caused by frequent occurrence  of natural disasters.

Zhang Youxue, from University of Michigan, spoke on behalf of the Overseas Chinese Society of Geological Science and Technology and the International China Geo-sciences Promotion Association, expecting the academic communication and cooperation between mainland and overseas Chinese geologists would be further promoted.

Ni Shijun, President of CDUT, said in his welcoming speech that it is an issue of common concern in the world to utilize the earth’s resources in a reasonable and effective manner and protect the environment of human survival and that this meeting is of realistic significance under the background of greater resource constraint, more serious environmental pollution and degeration of ecological system. He appealed that we should foster a sense of the same-fate community, grasp the right direction and promote the development of geo-sciences.

Prof. Xu Zhiqin, Prof. Zhang Hongtao, Prof. Zhou Yiming and Prof. Lin Jian gave their reports on their researches after the opening ceremony. At the meeting, 163 presentations were given by the participants concerning 12 topics.

This conference was initiated by GSC, geo-sciences section of NNSF, Geological Society of Hong Kong, Geo-sciences Institute of Academia Sinica of Taiwan, Geo-sciences Department of Taiwan University, the Overseas Chinese Society of Geological Science and Technology and China Geo-sciences Promotion Association, sponsored by GSC, and organized by Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, CDUT and so on.