Speech by Li Weisen, Spokesman of the State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping

April 27, 2007

Ladies and gentlemen:

Good morning.

First of all, on behalf of the State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping (SBSM) and Ministry of Construction (MOC) , I would like to express my appreciation of the presence of friends from the press. Today we will give an introduction on policies related to the verification and publication of China 's significant geographic information and data, and announce the elevation data of 19 famous scenic mountains approved by the State Council.

I. Policies on Verification and Publication of Significant Geographic Information and Data

Significant geographic information and data shall be verified and published by the state.

Significant geographic information and data refer to such location and attribute information and data as the positions, elevations, depths, areas, and lengths of important natural and human geographic entities within the territorial air, land or waters of the People's Republic of China as well as other sea areas under its jurisdiction. Included are the lengths of international boundary and national coastline, the areas of territorial land and sea, contiguous zone and exclusive economic zone, the area of national seashore bottomland, the quantity and areas of islands and reefs, significant features of national territory, the locations of areas with different topography and landform, and such geographic information and data as the locations, elevations, depths, areas and lengths of other important natural and human geographic entities determined by the SBSM in consultation with other relevant departments under the State Council.

Significant geographic information and data have three key characteristics. First is their solemn political nature. Information and data such as the area of national territory and the lengths of international boundary and national coastline are politically sensitive in particular, since they relate to territorial integrity, state sovereignty and national dignity. Second is their strict scientific nature. The geographic information and data such as the positions, elevations, depths, areas and lengths of important natural and human entities within the territorial air, land or waters of the People's Republic of China as well as other sea areas under its jurisdiction are acquired following certain principles and truth of the scientific discipline. Third is their serious legal nature. According to the provisions of the Surveying and Mapping Law of the People's Republic of China and the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Administration of Surveying and Mapping Results, no organization or individual shall publish significant geographic information and data without authorization. Where significant geographic information and data need to be published, proposals shall be submitted for approval according to prescribed procedures. All influential activities shall use the significant geographic information and data published according to law. The scope of significant geographic information and data shall be determined by SBSM in consultation with relevant departments.

Significant geographic information and data shall be verified and published according to procedures and law.

The procedures for significant geographic information and data verification and publication are stipulated in the Surveying and Mapping Law of the People's Republic of China and the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Administration of Surveying and Mapping Results. Any organization or individual that acquires by scientific means and puts forward such information and data as the positions, elevations, depths, areas and lengths of important natural and human geographic entities within the territorial air, land or waters of the People's Republic of China as well as other sea areas under its jurisdiction may propose to publish the significant geographic information and data. The local People's Governments at all levels and all the departments under the State Council may also make such proposals directly. Proposals shall be submitted in written form to SBSM for verification.

SBSM is the organization that is responsible for verifying the significant geographic information and data proposed to be published and ensuring the veracity and authoritativeness of such information and data when used in national economic construction, social development and international exchanges. SBSM shall consult with other relevant departments under the State Council and the competent department for surveying and mapping of the army according to the nature of the significant geographic information and data, carry out argumentation and call for comments and suggestions on the significant geographic information and data planned to be published, and submit proposals on the publication of verified significant geographic information and data to the State Council for approval.

The significant geographic information and data to be published shall be accepted, verified and consulted with relevant departments by SBSM before the submission to the State Council for approval and shall be published by the State Council or its authorized department. The significant geographic information and data shall be published in the form of public announcement or press conference by the relevant authority and shall be used in the administration, news communication, international exchange and teaching activities in the country.

II. Verification and Announcement of the Elevations of the First 19 Famous Scenic Mountains

According to the Surveying and Mapping Law of the People's Republic of China and under the approval and authorization of the State Council, today SBSM and Ministry of Construction will jointly announce the elevation data of the first 19 famous scenic mountains of China . As of today, these data shall be used in such activities of public nature as administration, news communication, international exchange and teaching. This is the first time the significant geographic information and data of mountains in China are published after the release of the elevation data of Mount Qomolangma in 2005.

Following are the elevation data of the 19 famous scenic mountains:

Tai Shan 1532.7 meters,

Hua Shan 2154.9 meters,

Heng Shan (located in Hunan Province) 1300.2 meters,

Heng Shan (located in Shanxi Province) 2016.1 meters,

Song Shan 1491.7 meters,

Wutai Shan 3061.1 meters,

Yuntai Shan 624.4 meters,

Putuo Shan 286.3 meters,

Yandang Shan 1108.0 meters,

Huang Shan 1864.8 meters,

Jiuhua Shan 1344.4 meters,

Lu Shan 1473.4 meters,

Jinggang Shan 1597.6 meters,

Sanqing Shan 1819.9 meters,

Longhu Shan 247.4 meters,

Lao Shan 1132.7 meters,

Wudang Shan 1612.1 meters,

Qingcheng Shan 1260.0 meters,

Emei Shan 3079.3 meters.

The elevation data of the mountains in the scenic spots at national level (including the sites of World Heritage) are significant geographic information and data. According to the Surveying and Mapping Law of the People's Republic of China , Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Administration of Surveying and Mapping Results, and Regulations on Scenic Spots and Historic Sites, SBSM organized the campaign of measurement of the first 19 scenic mountains and obtained precise data of them. After consultation with relevant departments, SBSM submitted the data for approval and the State Council has authorized the publication.

As a carrier of the Chinese civilization, the scenic mountains possess important human landscapes and rich natural resources and display the cultural and spiritual foundation of the five thousand years' Chinese civilization. At present, the elevation data of a number of the mountains in China are inconsistent and incorrect, some of which are even about 100 meters in difference. With the social and economic development, there is an increasing public demand for the significant geographic information and data. To publish the elevation data of the famous mountains in China according to law can effectively regulate the procedures of verification and publication of significant geographic information and data, lead the public to use the authorized significant geographic information and data, foster the awareness of natural resources conservation and the concept of science, promote the sustainable development of tourism, and enhance the citizen's consciousness of the national territory and their patriotism.

From July to October 2006, SBSM had discussions in succession with Ministry of Land and Resources, Ministry of Construction, State Environmental Protection Administration, State Forestry Administration and relevant department of the army. On the basis of the discussions and the opinions collected from other relevant organizations, 78 mountains located in the national key scenic spots (including the sites of World Heritage) were determined to be included in the category of the significant geographic information and data with a comprehensive consideration of such factors as the extent of fame and influence, public demands, measurement conditions, and national security. The elevation data of a group of 19 mountains were decided to be published first.

According to the principle that the verification and publication should be conducted in a planned way and at different levels, SBSM made an overall arrangement of the measurement campaign. Under the support of the management departments of the scenic spots and local departments of land and resources, the provincial departments of surveying and mapping administration organized the measurements. From late July 2006 to early March 2007, the measurements were carried out and the precise data of the first group of 19 well known scenic mountains were obtained. The filing of the measurement results was conducted by the National Geomatics Center of China.

At the appraisal meeting on the results of the scenic mountains elevation measurement organized by SBSM on March 15, 2007, the 12-member appraisal council including 7 academicians unanimously held that the measurements of the first group of 19 well known scenic mountains were carried out with a definite objective and a reasonable technical scheme. The field survey and data processing were conducted very prudently in accordance with specifications. The final results were true and reliable. It is a simple and fast way to measure the elevation of mountain by combining GPS measurement and quasi geoid model, which can be widely applied in similar work in the future.

III. Next Step Work for the Verification and Publication of Significant Geographic Information and Data

After the publication of the elevations of the first 19 famous Chinese mountains, SBSM will work with the Ministry of Construction to make a unified arrangement on the rectification and replacement of the old geographic markers in accordance with the Surveying and Mapping Law of the People's Republic of China, the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Administration of Surveying and Mapping Results, and the Regulations on the Scenic Spots and Historic Sites.

At present, according to the Surveying and Mapping Law of the People's Republic of China , the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Administration of Surveying and Mapping Results, SBSM is actively fulfilling its duties to strengthen the administration of verification and publication of significant geographic information and data.

First is to improve the legislative system. We will make efforts to revise the Regulations on Verification and Publication of Significant Geographic Information and Data to improve its applicability and operability. We will also work out accompanying policies, regulations and stipulations and give full play to the initiatives of all relevant departments and local governments. We will tighten the procedure of verification and publication and apply more stringent punishment on illegal incidents.

Second is to speed up the work of verification and publication. While considering suggestions and proposals from various social communities, we will further consult with relevant departments to make plans for publication of significant geographic information and data. And based on the plans, we will verify and publish such data as the lengths of international boundary and national coastline, areas of territorial land and sea, number and area of islands and reefs, elevations of famous mountains, and lengths of famous rivers.

Third is to enhance the supervision work. We will fully carry out our responsibilities, adopt proper measures and ensure forceful supervision. We will check up and rectify the significant geographic information and data published previously. Illegal actions related to significant geographic information and data, such as unauthorized publication, wrong use of the information and data against laws and regulations will be banned and rectified. Harsh punishment will be applied to serious cases according to law.

Recently, we are making technical preparation for the publication of the significant geographic information and data such as the lowest land spot of China ( Aydingkol Lake ), length of the Great Wall, and data of some other famous mountains and rivers.

Now, Mr. Li Yongxiong, Director General, Department of Surveying and Mapping Results Management, SBSM, Ms Chen Zhenzhen, Deputy Director General, Department of Urban Construction, Ministry of Construction and I are pleased to take your questions.