On July 24, 2011, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography (XIEG), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) celebrated 50 years of “Working Hard, Striving Together, and Innovating Beyond.” On the same day, the 2011 Annual Conference of the Geographical Society of China was held. More than one thousand scholars, researchers, and students engaged in discussions on geography, resources and environmental science, while taking part in the semicentennial celebration of the founding of XIEG. The attendees came from CAS, Peking University, Nanjing University, Hong Kong University, and the University of Cologne in Germany, the University of Waterloo in Canada, the International Geographical Union, the Association of American Geographers and other research institutions in the world.

Prof. CHEN Xi, the director of XIEG, introduced the history and development of XJEG, and presented its current achievements. He closed by saying that XIEG will always insist on serving its historical mission by making greater contributions to sustainable development in both arid areas and Xinjiang.

Subsequently, the chairman of the conference, and director of the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research of CAS, LIU Yi, and the former director of XIEG, XIA Xuncheng, also presented speeches.

In order to thank the elder generation of scientists who made great contributions towards the development of XIEG, the conference presented a special contribution award to them.

Prof. CHEN Xi is introducing the history and development of XIEG and presented its current achievements