Deqing County, Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province - Nov 19, 2018 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Various of United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress in progress, attendees
2. Various of Geospatial Information Technology and Application Exhibition
3. Drone on display
4. Various of visitors at Geospatial Information Technology and Application Exhibition
5. Aerial shot of building
6. Various of venue for United Nation World Geospatial Information Congress

The first United Nation World Geospatial Information Congress (UNWGIC) kicked off on Monday in Deqing of east China's Zhejiang Province.

Under the theme of "The Geospatial Way to a Better World", about 1,000 representatives from the governments of the member states of the UN, international organizations on geospatial information, academic circles and industrial circles gathered in Deqing to enhance communication, understanding and application of geospatial information management and pool talents to help address local, regional and global challenges.

The UNWGIC will issue a report to share China's effective cases and experiences using geospatial information to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the local level.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang sent a congratulatory letter to the UNWGIC as well, giving his blessing for the event.

Geospatial information plays a crucial role in socio-economic development. In today's world, geospatial information technology has been deeply integrated with the new generation of information technologies, such as mobile internet, big data and cloud computing, facilitating the development of new growth impetuses, business models and applications, Li said in the letter.

The Chinese government has always been an active participant and supporter of the global cooperation of geospatial information and appreciates the United Nations' efforts in coordinating and managing geospatial information and boosting global sustainable development, Li said.

He noted that China will continually join hands with other countries to enable the collaboration of geospatial information to play a more significant role in serving global governance, facilitating sustainable development, boosting the well-being of mankind and building a community with a shared future for humanity.

Li hopes that the congress will be able to pool wisdom and strengthen cooperation to help expand the global application of geospatial information as well as promote its innovative development.

The UNWGIC is the highest-level intergovernmental forum for global consultation, exchange and cooperation in the field of geospatial information.

As an important part of the UNWGIC, the Geospatial Information Technology and Application Exhibition is also open to the public from Nov 19 to 23 this year in the Deqing International Exhibition Center.

Covering an area of 12,400 square meters, the exhibition, featuring five venues and themes, showcases intelligent equipment, smart applications, location-based services, map cultures and simulations of future life.

The activities organized by the congress will last for a week.