HISTORY OF COOPERATION IN SURVEYING AND MAPPING STUDIES BETWEEN THE STATE BUREAU OF SURVEYING AND MAPPING OF CHINA AND THE UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

摘要

Since 1985, the State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping of China and the U.S. Geological Survey have exchanged technology and ideas under the Protocol for Scientific and Technical Cooperation in Surveying and Mapping Studies. The Protocol was implemented under the 1979 Agreement on Cooperation in Science and Technology between the United States and the People's Republic of China. Protocol activities include reciprocal technical exchanges by scientists and managers, participation in cooperative research and applications projects, and jointly authored technical reports documenting the results of cooperative mapping and remote sensing projects. Areas of cooperation include digital cartography, geodesy, satellite remote sensing research and applications, geographic information systems (GIS) research and applications, data archiving and dissemination, and program management. Both the United States and China have gained knowledge and technical expertise by participating in cooperative mapping, GIS, and satellite mapping projects and by sharing information on the management and technical development of their mapping programs. Under the Protocol, the United States and China have achieved a significant degree of harmonization in their respective civilian mapping programs, providing an excellent example of constructive Sino-U.S. engagement that has proven to be beneficial to both nations.