With support of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and under the theme of "Global Change: Observation, Simulation, Human Activities and Economic Problems," the 325th session of the Xiangshan Science Conferences was convened in Beijing last week.

The objectives of this session of XSSC were to break barriers to interdisciplinary studies on the issue and create an agreeable atmosphere for cooperation and exchanges in various fields, and to probe new ways to construct new research platforms.

The global climate and environmental changes have topped agendas of international political and diplomatic discussions. In China, issues of energy, water resources and environmental protection are given high priority. To address the issues, Chinese scientists are expected to continue to tackle such issues as the drive of globalization and global change and how they have influenced China's conditions in energy, water resources and environment.

Although China has kept increasing its investment on the research into global change, the conference addressed the lack of well-organized research programs, clear-cut scientific focuses and advanced technologies.