"Success" was the word used by almost all participants to describe the First International Conference on Geoparks that closed in Beijing Tuesday.  

"Today, at this conference, the stone has been dropped into the water," said Dr. Patrick McKeever, a representative from Ireland. "In five years' time, you will see the real success of this conference."

The conference, sponsored by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) and China's Ministry of Land and Resources, attracted 500-plus geologists and officials from over 40 countries.

China organized this great conference to bring people from all continents together, to exchange experiences and help each other in promoting the geopark concept to the public, said McKeever. "I am glad that Ireland will host the next session of the conference in 2006 and continue the work."

After attending lectures and exhibitions in the past three days, Prof. Eduardo Mulder, president of the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) said that he was amazed by the development of geoparks in China.

"Compared to other countries in the world, the geopark concept has reached an excellent level of recognition in China," he said. "The conference is an excellent example of how the world can learn from China."

"The meeting is an excellent way," he held, "to demonstrate how geology can be used for the society. It is a good example of how to bring science and people together."

"By working together, that will be our real success," he said.

His idea was echoed by Naz Ahmed Shaikh, director of Geological Survey of Sweden. "We must engage non-geologists," he said. "That is a big job to be done."

He said that he was deeply impressed by the success of the meeting as well as the great achievements China has made to promote the concept of geoparks.

"I benefited a lot from the meeting," he said, adding that what he had learned here was bound to be useful in Sweden.

(Xinhua News Agency June 30, 2004)