The Group on Earth Observations (GEO) Ministerial Summit was held on Nov. 5 of 2010 in Beijing. The meeting discussed the development of the system for global earth observations and adopted the Beijing Declaration. Representatives from 50 countries and 40 international organizations held discussions on comprehensive observations, data sharing, and information services. Chinese State Councilor LIU Yandong and US President Barack Obama sent messages of congratulations. MOST Minister WAN Gang and Vice Minister CAO Jianlin, and Administrator of China Meteorological Administration Dr. Zheng Guoguang were present at the event. Vice President of the European Commission Antonio Tajani, Minister of Science and Technology of South Africa Naledi Pandor, US Deputy Secretary of the Interior David J. Hayes, Chinese Ministers and GEO Secretariat Director Jose Achache jointly presided over the event.

Founded in 2005, GEO is responsible for coordinating various activities of comprehensive earth observation systems, and its principles include setting and implementing the 10-Year Implementation Plan for the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) and establishing a comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable comprehensive earth observation system. China is one of the founders and the four co-chair countries of GEO. Over the past 6 years, GEO has been developing very fast from 34 members to the current 85 member countries and 61 international organizations. At present GEO is the largest inter-governmental organization for earth observations in the world.