The International Symposium on Deep Earth Exploration and Practices (DEEP-2024) was held on October 22 in Beijing. Li Jinfa, Director of the China Geological Survey at the Ministry of Natural Resources, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech. Academician Hou Zengqian of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Director of the Laboratory of Deep Earth Sciences and Technology at the Ministry of Natural Resources of the People’s Republic of China, chaired the ceremony. Yao Yupeng, Executive Vice Director of the Earth Science Division at the National Natural Science Foundation of China; Hassina Mouri, President of the International Union of Geological Sciences; and Marco Bohnhoff, Executive Chair of the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program, also delivered speeches.

China has actively participated in Earth science cross-sectional exploration organized by the International Lithosphere Program since the 1980s. It has also collaborated on projects such as the Sino-U.S. and Sino-French Himalayan and Tibetan Plateau integrated exploration projects. Major scientific research programs have been successfully carried out, including the East China Sea Continental Scientific Drilling Project, the Wenchuan Earthquake Scientific Drilling Project, and the Songliao Basin Continental Scientific Drilling Project. Notably, China completed the world’s first land scientific drilling through the Cretaceous strata, reaching a depth of 7,018 meters. This achievement set the Asian record for the deepest continental scientific drilling. The China Geological Survey has also organized and implemented projects such as “SinoProbe” and “Deep Geological Survey.” These projects have made significant progress in conducting deep geological surveys of the continental crust structure in South China, Northeast China, and Northwest China.

Experts attending the symposium unanimously agreed on the need to strengthen international collaboration in deep Earth science research. They also emphasized the importance of promoting the advancement of Earth sciences. This includes enhancing the application of exploration technologies, information technologies, and artificial intelligence in deep Earth exploration. The symposium emphasized the creation of an international platform for communication and cooperation, allowing global scientists to share data and research findings. This platform would also foster in-depth exchanges and mutual learning in deep Earth exploration science, ultimately expanding the boundaries of Earth knowledge.

The symposium was organized by the China Geological Survey and the National Natural Science Foundation of China. It was hosted by the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences and the Laboratory of Deep Earth Sciences and Technology of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the People’s Republic of China. Its goal was to provide an open, collaborative platform for organizations, academic teams, and scholars conducting deep Earth exploration research worldwide, promoting the exchange of academic achievements and practical experiences. The three-day conference covered 14 key topics, including Earth's critical unexplored regions, the deep structure and dynamics of the Tibetan Plateau, the deep structure and evolution of the Eurasian continent, and natural hydrogen as a new geological energy source. 17 experts from around the world delivered keynote speeches on the opening day. Approximately 400 participants attended the event, including representatives from the Department of Science and Technology Development of the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Department of Science, Technology, and Informatization of the Ministry of Education, the Bureau of Development and Planning of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, relevant institutes of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the China Earthquake Administration, and relevant departments, offices and directly affiliated units of the China Geological Survey. Experts and scholars engaged in deep Earth exploration research from more than 20 countries and regions, along with university students, also participated.