Meeting time: June 20, 2024

Venue: Beijing Yibin

Meeting details:

The commemorative event reviewed the 20-year development of China's UNESCO Global Geoparks, exchanged experiences and practices in geopark management and sustainable development, and outlined key tasks for the next phase. Over the past two decades, China's UNESCO Global Geoparks have contributed significantly to promoting science education and ecological conservation while driving local socio-economic growth. Key achievements include: 1. **Remarkable progress in geological landscape protection**, with the geoparks effectively preserving unique geological relics and natural landscapes. 2. **Continuous improvement in management systems**—China co-initiated the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network, hosted its office in Beijing, and introduced the *UNESCO Global Geoparks Management Measures* in 2024. 3. **Notable regional development impact**, successfully establishing mature conservation and utilization models tailored to local conditions, transforming the资源优势 of many remote areas into a "golden key" for economic growth. 4. **Outstanding advancements in science popularization**, offering diverse activities such as科普, research trips, and eco-tourism to enhance public awareness of Earth and global challenges. 5. **Fruitful international exchanges and cooperation**, with over 30 Chinese experts and managers joining UNESCO's Global Geoparks evaluation expert pool, actively participating in UNESCO affairs, and fostering global collaboration through sister-park partnerships.

China currently has 47 UNESCO Global Geoparks, ranking first in the world. Their core concept is to promote sustainable socio-economic development by protecting geological heritage sites of international value and utilizing unique natural and cultural heritage resources within their regions. The Guangwushan-Nuoshuhe UNESCO Global Geopark, one of Sichuan Province's three global geoparks, boasts unique world-class geological relics and profound cultural-historical significance. It will continue transforming these superior resources into enduring drivers for sustainable social development, making greater contributions to building a nationally exemplary city for revitalizing old revolutionary base areas with high-quality development.