The project funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affaris held the training course in Vientiane, Laos on November 8^thto enhance the in-depth cooperation between China and other Asian countries’ geological survey organizations, and promote the application of digital technologies for geological survey. The training course was approved by the Ministry of Land and Resources, China andreceived great support from Laos Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE).

The opening ceremony was chaired by chief geologist Dr.Tan Yongjie from Development & Research Center of China Geological Survey (DRC, CGS). Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of Laos attended and addressed the opening ceremony. China’s Ambassador to Laos was also present. Other participants include Party Secretary of Regional Geological Survey Team of Geological Exploration Bureau, Sichuan Province, and General Manager of Mengao Mining Co. Ltd.

The training course will last for 16 days, and is divided into 4 days’ training on digital geological survey theories, technological methods and software application and geochemical mapping, and 12 days’ field practice and demonstration for digital geological mapping. Research team for Intelligent Geological Survey Technologies from DRC, CGS will be responsible for teaching. Demonstration on digital mapping will be conducted on the field where Regional Geological Survey Team of Geological Exploration Bureau, Sichuan, carried out geological mapping at the scale of 1:200 000. 

Some out of 20 surplus participants from MNRE will take part in the field practice. This is the first time ever China Geological Survey holds a training session in a technology promotion country, which will be of great significance on the growing international influence in terms of the training quantity and quality.

The training course was organized by Department of Geology and Mineral resources, MNRE and DRC, CGS, co-organized by Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration Institute, CGS and Regional Geological Survey Team of Geological Exploration Bureau, Sichuan Province. Project members of the relevant organizations, including those mentioned above have also taken part in the training course.