Xu Shaoshi, Minister's speech at the 34th International Geological Congress

Minister of Land, party secretary of the State Land Chief Inspector of Xu Shaoshi

Dear Mr. President of the International Union of Geological Sciences; respect of the International Geological Congress, Mr. Chairman; distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, friends:

Good morning!

Today, I am honored in conjunction with nearly 700 Chinese geologists from the summer of the northern hemisphere in mainland China, came in early spring in the southern hemisphere Brisbane, Australia, to attend the 34th International Geological Congress, with more than 5,000 from 110 countries and regions on behalf of gathered to discuss the international field of cutting-edge issues, work together to promote the development and prosperity of Earth Sciences. On behalf of the Chinese Ministry of Land and Resources and the Geological Society of China, expressed his warm congratulations to the General Assembly was held successfully, and to express my heartfelt gratitude to the organizers of the General Assembly of the International Union of Geological Sciences, Australian Resources and Energy and Ministry of Tourism, Geoscience Australia Council for Science, told his audience of distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, colleagues to friends to express my sincere greetings!

International Geological Congress so far has been successfully held 33 sessions, spanning three centuries, made a positive contribution for the prosperity of the earth sciences, to promote exchanges and cooperation between national geologists, service to humanity and peace development. Especially in the current world economic recovery is weak, resource and environment constraints, human sustainable development issues more pressing case, the continuation and success of the International Geological Congress held important and special meaning. The current session of the General Assembly to provide resources for the future of mankind. "Respond well to the intrinsic needs of the world, especially the developing countries of economic and social development of the more prominent geologist in promoting world economic recovery and sustainable development in the process of value. At this point, I would like to combine the theme of the conference, a few comments on the mission and responsibilities shouldered by Chinese geologists.

First, increase the geology and mineral resources, improve the level of protection of energy and resources

China is in a stage of development, industrialization, urbanization, agricultural modernization simultaneous rapid advance of the demand for energy resources and sustained rigid rise. As the world's largest developing country, China's energy and mineral resources, supply must be based on the domestic savings in the implementation of the strategic priority, and greatly enhance the efficiency of resource use at the same time, we must increase the resources prospecting, and effectively improve the level of protection of domestic resources. In October 2011, the Chinese government has formulated a "geological prospecting breakthrough Strategic Platform for Action explicitly put forward by 8 to 10 years of efforts, the formation of a number of important mineral resources strategy continuation remodeling of mineral resources prospecting and exploitation pattern. This strategic plan has a big stage to display their talents and wisdom of the Chinese geologists and space, but also gives the Chinese geologists have a new mission and higher requirements. Chinese geologists to join the geology and mineral resources, to strengthen geological science and technology research, focus on innovative geological prospecting theory, techniques, methods and equipment, and make due contribution to the sustainable economic and social development to provide resources and support.

To strengthen exchanges and cooperation, and promote global resources to better serve the sustainable development of mankind

Mineral resources in the global distribution of the imbalance, the decision almost no one country can fully rely on their own resources to achieve industrialization. National geological work in varying degrees, but also deeply affect the development process in countries, especially those of developing countries, due to the lag of the geological work, its own resources is difficult to translate into economic advantages, have been restricting their sustainable development factors. We all know, the resource endowments of the countries in the world are highly complementary, some experts predict, the rational allocation of global resources, can help the human to achieve industrialization to meet the internal needs of sustainable development. The Chinese Government is willing to carry out multi-level, wide-ranging, multi-channel, multi-mode mineral resources exploration and exploitation of exchanges and cooperation, willingness to learn modestly to the national geological community continues to welcome the national geology and mining companies involved in mineral exploration and development to China with other countries in the world, actively encourage domestic strength and reputable enterprises to participate in the global mineral resources exploration and exploitation activities, in particular, support the Chinese geologists first action, the well-being of mankind as a whole in mind, the field of geological survey, mineral exploration and other places strengthen international exchanges and to cooperate effectively take up "to provide resources for the future of mankind," the glorious mission and responsibility, together with national counterparts.

Three closely integrated with economic, social, environmental and work together to create a better future of the Earth Sciences

Development of human society is not only faced with resource constraints, but is also facing environmental pollution, natural disasters hair and global climate change is related to all mankind survival and sustainable development a major issue. The solution of these grand topics closely related to the development of earth sciences, there is an urgent need to geologists around the world to participate in research and answer, there is an urgent need for governments to give attention to and promote the development of earth sciences. In recent years, economic and social development in China, the Chinese government has increased investment in efforts to study the field, the past five years, China to learn the R & D investment growth of over 15%, a number of major geoscience projects have been started, the formation of a deep empty, dark land, a new pattern of deep-sea exploration research, known as the world's third pole of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, carry out the deployment on an unprecedented scale of the geological survey of mineral resources exploration and geological research work and made significant progress on the economy social development and ecological civilization has played a tremendous role in promoting. Committed to their own development, we are also more willing to join with the world's colleagues, to strengthen bilateral and multilateral exchanges, deepen pragmatic cooperation and work together to create new areas of earth science research, and to jointly promote the development and prosperity of the earth sciences. Here, I would like to propose concrete initiatives on the following areas of cooperation.

(A) to strengthen cooperation in the field of basic earth science research. Including the formation and evolution of the continent, the role of the deep Earth and shallow geological response, the survey of deep-sea ocean scientific drilling, basic geological map compilation and polar regions, the Moon and Mars exploration and other aspects.

(B) to strengthen cooperation in the fields of energy and mineral resource evaluation. Joint 3D survey and the evaluation of the resource potential of the deep, gas hydrates, shale gas, and geothermal development of new energy and low-carbon resources development and utilization of strengthening cooperation in the world's important metallogenic belt and sedimentary basin.

(C) to strengthen the cooperation of the geological environment and disasters. Including hydrogeology, engineering geology, environmental geology, investigation and evaluation, earthquakes, volcanoes, large-scale collapse, landslides, landslides and other geological disaster monitoring and early warning and response to global climate change.

(D) strengthen the geological technology development and innovation cooperation. Relying on modern technology, to strengthen cooperation in the geological breakthroughs in scientific research, geological survey, energy and mineral exploration, mineral resources comprehensive utilization of advanced technologies and methods.

Ladies and gentlemen, friends, the earth is the humanity in all its beautiful homes, earth science is an important basic science of the support of sustainable human development. Long as the earth exists, as long as the human development and progress, Earth Sciences, will be an eternal science. Since the first session of the International Geological Congress held in the 1870s, generation after generation of geologists, for the development of Earth Sciences, for the protection of our lovely home planet has made unremitting efforts, has made great achievements. Contemporary geologists more arduous historical mission, the responsibility is more significant, but as long as we work together to explore persistent aggressive, we will certainly write a better future of the Earth Sciences, it is necessary for the sustainable development of human society more brilliant contribution.

I wish this International Geological Congress a complete success! Thank you!