From October 31st to November 1st, 2023, the 14th Annual Meeting of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network was held in Linyi City, Shandong Province.

More than 150 guests, including representatives from 50 geoparks, leaders of competent departments, and experts and scholars, from 24 provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the central government, and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, gathered together to exchange achievements, achieve coordinated development, and work together for a win-win situation.

Group photo of the participants

The annual meeting, themed "Exchange Promotes Improvement, Innovation Leads Development", includes promotional activities, working meetings, and park visits, striving to fully showcase the new achievements and progress of China's Unesco Global Geoparks, promote exchanges and mutual learning among parks, build a platform for friendly cooperation and exchange, share experiences in the construction of Unesco Global Geoparks, and jointly seek sustainable development for Unesco Global Geoparks.

Meeting venue

Chen Xinfeng, the second-level inspector of the Nature Reserve Department of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, attended the annual meeting and delivered a speech

He Qingcheng, Executive Deputy Director of the National Geoparks Network Center and Director of the Global Geoparks Network Office, attended the annual meeting and delivered a speech

Mt. Siguniang Geopark was invited to the conference for promotion.  Currently, Mt. Siguniang Geopark is striving to apply for UNESCO Global Geopark status. At the conference, delegates listened to several keynote speeches on the construction and management of UNESCO Global Geoparks, and conducted on-site inspections of various geoheritages in the Yimengshan UNESCO Global Geopark, including the Daigu Park, Daigu Exhibition Hall, Daishang Grassland, and Mengshan Park. Through expert analysis, experience sharing, and on-site inspections, they further learned about the latest assessment standards and key points of UNESCO Global Geoparks, understood the situation of UNESCO Global Geopark applications and assessments in recent years, and absorbed the advanced management and construction experiences shared by various parks.  This conference enriched ideas and provided references for improving and perfecting the application work of Mt. Siguniang Geopark for UNESCO Global Geopark status.

After the meeting, the delegates actively engaged in exchanges with other geoparks and experts, showcasing and promoting Mt. Siguniang Geopark through promotional materials. This effectively enhanced the visibility and reputation of the park within the geopark community, strengthened the friendship among geoparks, and achieved positive results.

Representatives from Mt. Siguniang Geopark attended the annual meeting