International Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS) Council Meeting and the Meeting of International Advisory Board for ISPRS 2008 Beijing took place on August 20-24, 2007 in Beijing. All the participants highly valued the preparation work for the congress to be held in 2008.

One of the tasks of the two meetings was to discuss the preparation work for next year’s congress. Prof. Chen Jun, ISPRS Congress Director, reported to the meeting on the preparations for ISPRS 2008 Beijing. Participants of the meetings inspected the conference venue and facilities. ISPRS Council members, Technical Commission Presidents and the members of the International Advisory Board for the Congress showed their great satisfaction for the effective work done by the National Steering Committee, Local Organizing committee, and Scientific Program Committee. Mr. Lu Xinshe, Chairman of the National Steering Committee for ISPRS 2008 Beijing, Vice Minister of Ministry of Land and Resources and Director General of State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping of China, and Mr. Xu Guanhua, former Minister of Science and Technology, Vice Chairman of the National Steering Committee met with the guests during the meeting. Mr. Song Chaozhi, Executive Vice Chairman of the National Steering Committee, Deputy Director General of SBSM, accompanied the participants to inspect conference facilities. Mr. Yang Kai, Vice Chairman of the National Steering Committee, President of Chinese Society of Geodesy, Photogrammetry and Cartography invited the participants to Beijing Night Show.

For the next period of time, the LOC and SPC will continue to bid for more supports, improve the organization, and make detailed arrangements of the social and scientific programs, and enhance the publicity of the congress.