The Second Meeting of International Science Committee, the 8th International Conference on Gas Hydrate was convoked in Beijing on April 26, 2013. Sung-Rock LEE from Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, LU Hailong from Division of Emerging Technologies, National Research Council Canada, Ryo MATSUMOTO from Meiji University, Japan, Erwin SUESS from GEOMAR, Germany, WANG Jiyang as an Academician, Chinese Academy of Sciences, ZENG Hengyi as an Academician, China National Offshore Oil Corporation and ZHANG Hongtao as the Counselor of the State Council, China Geological Survey attended this meeting, while Richard CHAPMAN from Upstream Engineering Centre, BP Exploration Operating Co Ltd, UK, LI Xiaoyun from Statoil ASA, Norway, Dendy SLOAN from Colorado School of Mines, USA, Bahman TOHIDI from Heriot-Watt University, UK participated this meeting via video conference system. Entrusted by Dr. WANG Min, Chair of Organizing Committee of the 8th International Conference on Gas Hydrate, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Land and Resources, and Director General of China Geological Survey, LI Haiqing, Deputy Director General, China Geological Survey is present this meeting and gave a official welcoming address.

The Secretariat presented the overall arrangement plan and the current stage of preparation work, and in addition, the conference website is showed in this meeting. The details of the 8th International Conference on Gas Hydrate included dates and venue, international science committee and ISC meetings, organizing committee and secretariat, session topics and program, registration fees, important dates and others were fully discussed during the meeting, and at last was came to an agreement.

The 8th International Conference on Gas Hydrate will be held at China National Convention Center, Beijing from July 28 to August 1, 2014, hosted by China Geological Survey and Chinese Academy of Sciences. The conference website (http://www.icgh8.org) will be open on May 2, 2013.

As a potential energy resource, gas hydrates may optimistically substitute oil and gas in the future, and received major interest to many countries. Especially, a recent surprise came from Japan in March 2013, the gas has been gathered from marine hydrate deposits in the Eastern Nankai Trough, which brings new dawn to the commercial production of gas hydrates, and push the exploration and development of the new energy forward.

Being an important conference to demonstrate the advanced progress related to gas hydrate, International Conference on Gas Hydrate grows from only 130 attendees in 1993, at ICGH 1, with 61 abstracts, till 2011 with 620 participants and 602 abstracts. The conference provides a great platform for hydrate community to present the new achievements, exchange[g1]  the initial ideas and announce the peer-reviewed researches. The conference will promote the exploration, exploitation and utilization of gas hydrates. It is the first chance for the developing countries to host the International Conference on Gas Hydrate in the next year. It will promote significantly the gas hydrate research in China, in Asia and even in the world as a whole.