The “14th Five-Year Plan” for National Geological Surveying Has Been Released!

　　 Recently, with the approval of the Ministry of Natural Resources, the China Geological Survey has issued the “14th Five-Year Plan for National Geological Surveys” (hereinafter referred to as the “Plan”).
The Plan states that during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, it will comprehensively implement the spirit of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and all plenary sessions of the 19th CPC Central Committee. Grounded in the new stage of development, it will fully, accurately, and comprehensively apply the new development philosophy, serve the establishment of a new development paradigm, and, focusing closely on the nation’s ten major needs, vigorously advance three strategic transformations—shifting the orientation of geological survey services, refining guiding theories, and strengthening development drivers. It will accelerate the enhancement of scientific and technological innovation capabilities and modernization in geological surveys, address critical resource, environmental, ecological, disaster‑related, and Earth system science challenges that constrain China’s high‑quality economic and social development, and continuously strengthen its capacity to safeguard national energy and resource security, support ecological progress, and underpin major national strategies. Furthermore, it will promote innovation in geological science and technology, digitalization, and talent development; facilitate the transformative development of the geological sector and the high‑quality growth of the mining industry; and, through comprehensive and rigorous Party self‑governance, ensure the sound and sustainable development of geological survey work, thereby providing robust geological support for the comprehensive building of a modern socialist country. The Plan explicitly upholds the fundamental principles of “national‑demand orientation, a foundational, public‑interest‑oriented, and strategic mission, innovation‑driven development, coordinated and integrated advancement, and international openness and cooperation.”
The Plan sets forth the following key objectives: by 2025, the industrialization of exploration and development for two strategic energy resources—natural gas hydrates and enhanced geothermal systems—will be further accelerated; the two major strategic scientific and technological forces—deep‑earth and deep‑sea exploration—will have attained initial scale; and a number of critical resource, ecological, environmental, and disaster‑related issues that constrain the implementation of national major strategies and large‑scale infrastructure projects will be effectively addressed. The framework of a multi‑element natural resources survey and monitoring system will be essentially in place, a new modern geological work system aligned with high‑quality economic and social development and ecological civilization construction will be preliminarily established, and a new landscape characterized by high openness and broad cooperation will largely take shape. Overall capabilities in geological science and technology innovation will rank among the world’s leading, and the level of geological informationization will see a marked improvement.
The Plan sets out key tasks across eleven priority areas. First, it calls for continuously strengthening basic geological surveys and Earth system science research to deepen our understanding of the Earth system and China’s resource endowment. Second, it emphasizes enhancing the exploration and evaluation of clean energy and strategic mineral resources, with full commitment to implementing a new round of strategic initiatives aimed at breakthroughs in mineral discovery. Third, it seeks to accelerate marine geological surveys and the exploration and pilot production of natural gas hydrates, proactively supporting the nation’s drive to become a maritime power. Fourth, it undertakes water resource surveys, monitoring, and assessments to underpin optimal allocation, effective protection, and rational development and utilization of water resources. Fifth, it conducts ecological‑geological surveys of land and space, along with conservation and restoration efforts, providing systematic solutions for the ecological protection and restoration of major rivers and watersheds, as well as for the comprehensive management of critical ecological issues such as soil and water loss, desertification, and stony desertification. Sixth, it carries out surveys, monitoring, and evaluations of natural resources to support their scientific conservation and rational development and utilization. Seventh, focusing on critical needs and leveraging the strengths of geological science and technology, it provides robust support for the implementation of major national strategies and large‑scale infrastructure projects. Eighth, it reinforces geological hazard surveys, assessments, and monitoring‑early warning systems, thereby bolstering the scientific and technological foundation for disaster prevention and control in China. Ninth, it deepens international geological survey and scientific‑technological cooperation, enhancing its capacity and level of service to global mining partnerships. Tenth, with the goal of building a national strategic force in science and technology, it vigorously elevates the innovation capacity and modernization of geological science and technology. Eleventh, it intensifies efforts to advance geological informationization, accelerating the digital transformation of geological survey management and services.
The Plan sets forth a series of safeguard measures, including strengthening organizational leadership, bolstering talent development, enhancing infrastructure and logistical support, elevating the level of safety production management and assurance, securing multi‑channel funding for joint investment, and reinforcing monitoring and evaluation of plan implementation, to ensure its effective execution and tangible results.

 

Source: China Geological Survey