Message from Dr. Jinfa Li,

Chairperson of CCOP Steering Committee

Dear friends,

      You are warmly welcome to visit the new website of the Coordinating Committee for Geoscience Programmes in East and Southeast Asia (CCOP)!

      As the only international intergovernmental organization in geological sciences in East and Southeast Asia, CCOP was authorized by the United Nations in 1966. Its main responsibilities are to organize and to coordinate the cooperation between East and Southeast Asian countries in the fields of energy policy and technology, mineral resources and coastal zone management, groundwater, geological hazard prevention, environmental protection, geo-information management and so on. Through project cooperation, technology transfer, information exchange，and capacity-building, CCOP has made outstanding contributions to the sustainable economic and social development of East and Southeast Asia, and to the improvement of the quality of life of local people.

      At present, both opportunities and challenges coexist in the development of East and Southeast Asia. Firstly, the profound changes unseen in a century and the Covid-19 pandemic intertwined closely, the global economic landscape and the supply and demand pattern of resources and energy have been deeply adjusted. Secondly, the worsening global climate change and environmental pollution have continued challenging the sustainable development of the CCOP region. Thirdly, the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) will vigorously promote free regional mining trade and economic recovery. To this end, CCOP has announced its Strategic Plan 2021-2025, and will take a series of actions as follows: First, we will work in response to the major global agenda such as the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change, and further enhance the global influence of CCOP. Second, we will align our development strategies with all Member Countries, to promote geoscience benefit local people, and jointly build a community of shared life on earth. Third, we will build and strengthen the innovation platforms such as the Research Center of Urban Geology and promote scientific and technological innovation. Fourth, we will continue promoting personnel training.

      An ancient Chinese poem says: When the time comes to ride the wind and cleave the waves, I will set my cloud-white sail and cross the sea which raves. As the newly elected chairperson for CCOP Steering Committee, I will endeavour with my colleagues of CCOP, organize the Member Countries and the Cooperative Countries, make every effort to implement the CCOP Strategic Plan 2021-2025. CCOP will be built into an international first-class regional geoscience organization, making greater contributions to sustainable social and economic development and benefit the people of East Asia and Southeast Asia.

      I wish all of you a successful career, good health and a happy family!