The First Conference on World Geography themed “Geography and the Building of a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind” was held in Shanghai between November 26th and 27th. The conference, held both physically and virtually, attracted over 1,500 domestic and international experts and scholars. They came together to explore opportunities and challenges for the development of geography and offer scientific support and solution for global governance and sustainable development h while focusing on major global issues.

In the morning of November 27th, the sub-venue called “Resources and Environment of Central Asia and Development of the Silk Road” of the first Conference on World Geography, organized by Research Center for Ecology and Environment of Central Asia (RCEECA), was held. 46 representatives from the research institutes of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Rwanda and China attended the conference and conducted in-depth discussion on ecological restoration and sustainable development of Aral Sea, comprehensive use of water resources in Central Asia and green development of the “Belt and Road” as well as development of the Silk Road. Among them, 15 scholars gave reports. At the conference, representatives shared new technologies, methods and results for the research of resources and environment in Central Asia and discussed new ways to promote sustainable development of water, social economy and ecosystem in the region of Central Asia. The exchanges at this sub-venue played an significant role in improve research level of the resources and environment in Central Asia and expand regional and interdisciplinary international cooperation.

At the invited report stage on November 26th, Researcher Chen Xi of RCEECA gave a report on “Changes on Water and Soil of Central Asia and Sustainable Development”, in which he put more focus on introducing progress of RCEECA in regional ecosystem and environment research based on scientific analysis of resources and environment research importance of Central Asia and went through the mechanism of scientific cooperation platform of Central Asia and progress achieved while taking the case of ecological restoration of Aral Sea and coordinated management of water, social economy and ecosystem as an example. His report was highly praised by the experts and widely discussed among all representatives.

The First Conference on World Geography was held by The Geographical Society of China (GSC), China Institute for Innovation & Development Strategy, East China Normal University and Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). Beside the main venue, 38 sub-venues were also held focusing climate change and global sustainable development, global ecological crisis and green economy, global geography of resources and energy security, Asian monsoon region change and regional integration, resources and environment of Africa and China-Africa cooperation, resources and environment of Latin America and regional development, rapid changes of cryosphere and development of Polar Silk Road, Pan-third pole change and development of the Silk Road, world marine geography and development of Maritime Silk Road, and spatial-temporal big data and innovation in research methods of world geography. There were over 500 reports. At the closing ceremony, Academician Qin Dahe announced the declaration of the First Conference on World Geography

Physical venue

Virtual venue

Representatives at the sub-venue

Chen Xi gave report