Third High Level Forum on Global Geospatial Information Management22-24 October 2014, Beijing, PR China“Timely and urgent to consider Sustainable Development with Geospatial Information"(WU Hongbo, Under-Secretary General for Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations)
The Third High Level Forum on Global Geospatial Information Management was hosted by Government of PR China through the National Administration of Surveying, Mapping and Geoinformation (NASG) with the theme ‘Sustainable Development with Geospatial Information’. This Forum is organized based on the mandate from the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) to convene global forums to promote comprehensive dialogue on global geospatial information management with all relevant governments, non-governmental organizations and the private sector. The event was officiated by His Excellency Kurexi Maihesuti, Vice Minister, Ministry of Land and Resources PR China and Director General of the National Administration of Surveying, Mapping and Geoinformation (NASG) together with His Excellency WU Hongbo Under-Secretary General for Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations. During the Opening Ceremony, Mr. Eduardo Sojo, Co-Chair, UN-GGIM Committee of Experts and Mr Mark Cygan, Joint Board of Geospatial Information Societies also delivered statements. The Forum itself was well structured and organized with good keynote
speakers for each of the sessions and the segments within the sessions. A
total of five sessions were programmed and they were – The Forum was attended by 261 delegates from 44 countries, 9 United Nations representatives, and 27 representatives from international organizations and the private sector. FIG was represented by Vice President Pengfei CHENG and President CheeHai TEO. In his address to the Forum, the Under-Secretary General of the United Nations, WU Hongbo said that the Forum “is most timely, and carries with it some level of urgency. The UN system and Member States are charting a path forward towards the post-2015 development agenda, including setting new Sustainable Development Goals. This week provides an opportunity for you, the global geospatial information community, to focus on the critical roles of geospatial information science in integrating the 3 pillars – economic, social and environmental – of sustainable development. Your consideration of ‘Sustainable Development with Geospatial Information’ can build on the dialogues and ongoing initiatives of United Nations programmes convened in recent months.” His Excellency WU Hongbo also commented the global diversity of expertise at the Forum representing Member States within the United Nations and particularly welcomed international partners, FIG being one, and the private sector. He said, “This High-Level Forum offers a unique platform for free flowing, open and inclusive dialogue. The UN-GGIM helps to shape national systems, influences common practices, and brings our professionals from the public and private sectors together to harness the power of geospatial information” In his officiating address, His Excellency Kurexi Maihesuti said, “We share a common fate on this shared planet. Sustainable development has emerged as a global issue that has a bearing on the fate of humanity as a whole”. At the close of the Forum, Dr. Li Pengde, President of UN-GGIM-Asia Pacific presented the Chairperson’s summary. The Forum adopted the Beijing Declaration at the conclusion of the Forum.
Prof. PengFei CHENG 30 October 2014 |
