Vice Minister CAO Jianlin met with visiting Secretariat Director of the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) Jose Achache on Sep. 28 of 2010 in Beijing. Both sides exchanged ideas on the preparatory work for the Beijing GEO Conference to be held from Nov. 3 to 5 and the prospects of earth observation.

Founded in 2005, GEO now consists of 81 member countries among which China is one of the initiators and co-chairs. GEO is building the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) which covers 9 nine “Societal Benefit Areas”.