The 7th International Conference on UNESCO Global Geoparks was held from the 27th to the 30th September, 2016, in Torquay, English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark, United Kingdom, and was attended by 700 delegates from 63 countries, including more than 150 Chinese delegates. The Chinese delegates’ active participation in the conference and the honors and recognition that they have garnered became one of the highlights of this global g athering.

       The delegates from China submitted 35 research papers to the organizing committee and set up 12 geopark exhibition stands. Besides, the Chinese delegates also actively engaged in panel discussions and made the “Chinese voice” heard at the Asia-Pacific Geoparks Network Symposium and at the plenary session of UNESCO Global Geoparks General Conference. What’s noteworthy is that Prof. Jin Xiaochi from the Institute of Geology at Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences and Prof. Zhang Jianping from China University of Geosciences, Beijing were both elected as vice presidents of the Executive Board of Global Geoparks Network (GGN). At the g athering, two of China’s geoparks were granted the ‘Global Geoparks Network (GGN) Best Practices Award (2014-2015)’. They are the Fangshan UNESCO Global Geopark and the Dali Mt. Cangshan UNESCO Global Geopark. In addition, Chen Xiaoning, chief of Geological Environment Department of the Chinese Ministry of Land and Resources, was nominated by the Executive Board of GGN and later elected by all GGN members as the only GGN honorary member so far in recognition of her outstanding contributions to promoting the development of geoparks in China and around the world.