On July 14, the12th International Conference on Salt Lake Research was held in the Grand Epoch City, Hebei Povince,China. Director general of CGS（China Geological Survey）Zhong Ziran, president of International Society of Salt Lake Aharon Oren, and 10 academicians from CAS (Chinese Academy of Sciences) and CAE (Chinese Academy of Engineering) attended the conference. 
     

 Focusing on the theme “Future of Salt Lakes, Research and Development for Global Sustainability”, the experts conducted discussions on a wide-range of topics, including global change recorded by salt lake sediments, salt lake ecology and bio-resources, salt geology and resource exploration, salt chemistry and chemical engineering, management of salt lake and adjacent territories.

Chinese government has been attaching great importance toresearch work, exploration and utilization of salt lake resource. In this regard, such programs as geological survey and evaluationprogram of CGS, non-profit special program of Ministry of Science and Technology and National "973" Planhave been set up. China has made great achievements in the exploration and development of salt lake resource, long-term monitoring in salt lake environment, salt lake eco-systems research and etc. In the new historical period, the scientific research and exploration and utilization of salt lakes is of great significance to the promotion of economy, social development and ecological civilization progress. Based on the geological survey programs, Ministry of Land and Resources has fostered a young talent multi-disciplinary team led by academician Zheng Mianping and other geologists, who work closely with relevant research strength and play a vital role in salt lake research. Chinese and foreign scientists are expected to extend a wide range of exchanges so as to promote salt lake research, resource exploitation and environmental protection.

       The conference is launched by CGS and International Society of Salt Lake, hosted by Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences and undertaken by Institute of Mineral Resources Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences and R&D Center for Saline Lake and Epithermal Deposit, CAGS. A total of over 300 experts at home and abroad attended the conference, including representatives from Russia，Australia，the United States, Israel, Brazil, Iran, Croatia, Kazakhstan and China.