China has made remarkable progress in remote sensing and geographic mapping, which is playing an increasingly important role in environmental protection and economic construction.
The remarks were made by Xu Guanhua, Minister of Science and Technology, at a conference hosted by the International Society of Photography and Remote Sensing (ISPRS) in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province.
China has established a framework for technical innovation in remote sensing and survey. Over the past 20 years, China has dedicated significant research funding for the purpose of developing remote sensing technology and survey in major state-listed scientific items, while simultaneously encouraging enthusiastic innovation through learning about the advanced technologies of other countries, Xu said.
Remote sensing has been widely employed in economic construction, national defense, the preservation of cultural relics and river inspections.
(Xinhua News Agency August 31, 2002)
