The four yearly Congress of ISPRS is the most important event in the ISPRS Calendar and offers a wealth of opportunity for anyone using images for measurement and analysis. The Twenty First Congress will be held in Beijing from 3rd to 11th July 2008. The journey from Istanbul in 2004 to Beijing in 2008, following the Silk Road used by traders since 200BC, symbolises the importance to ISPRS of international communication. It also recognises that ISPRS wishes to involve all nations and all cultures in its activities. The Congress was last held in Asia, in Kyoto, Japan, in 1988 and has since been held in Europe and North America. The last Congress in Istanbul started the move to bridge all continents and I hope that after Beijing, the Congress may move to other continents which have not previously hosted this event. The 2008 event is an opportunity for people of all nations to share their experiences with colleagues from around the world.

ISPRS has always had good relationships with other international societies concerned with geo-spatial information. The programme for the Beijing Congress contains a number of aspects which recognize international collaboration and provide an opportunity for inter-society and inter-organisation activity. The Congress will be held during the International Polar Year and the International Year of Planet Earth and these events will be recognized, as well as the important progress of the Group on Earth Observations and the activities of the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs.

The Congress will be organised by the State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping in China. Professor Chen Jun from the National Geomatics Center of China is the Congress Director. You will see from the Announcement that Professor Chen Jun and his team plan a first class programme of plenary speakers, technical sessions, exhibition and social programme. I hope that as many people as possible will attend the Congress. ISPRS Sustaining members, and other commercial organisations should be planning for the exhibition and I am sure that this will be a real showcase for state-of-the-art equipment and software, especially from Asian companies.

China has an excellent record of organising such events and I am sure that the XXI Congress will be a Congress to remember. Delegates will be able to catch up with developments in photogrammetry and remote sensing, meet old friends and make new ones, and experience the exciting developments and fascinating culture of China. Please make a date to come to Beijing in 2008. I look forward to seeing you all there.

Ian Dowman
President, ISPRS