The world remote sensing development is coming into a new era. Remote sensing information service has influenced the economic and social development of all countries in the world. Facing the great challenges raised by the environment and resources of the world, and even much severer challenges for Asia due to its increasing population, deteriorating ecological environment and threatening natural disasters, the Remote Sensing has been an important means for human to understand and protect our Earth Planet, as well as an important technology to cope with the increasing resource and environment pressures, particularly with the frequently occurring natural disasters.

Asia is also one of the areas in the world with tremendous and most urgent demands for RS. Asian RS community needs to make more efforts to be creative, progressive, united and harmonious. The ACRS is just the conference for Asian RS community to be united, integrative and cooperative to promote and enhance the scientific and technological exchanges, as well as to strengthen friendship and communication between the scientists of Asian RS community.

After having successfully held the 2nd and 11th ACRS respectively in Beijing in 1981 and in Guangzhou in 1990, and the 20th ACRS in Hong Kong China in 1999, the 30th ACRS will be held in Beijing again from 18 to 23 October, 2009. As a member of Asian remote sensing family, China will display their achievements and progress during the development of remote sensing technologies and applications in the conference. As an united and coordinated Organization, China's National Committee on Remote Sensing (CNCRS) welcomes ardently all participants from Asia and other countries of the world and will do our best to organize a successful conference in Beijing.

2009 has a special meaning in the Asian remote sensing history - there is a 30th anniversary of ACRS since the first conference held in Bangkok Thailand in 1980. The Remote Sensing Community of Asian, together with the World, will celebrate the 30th Anniversary of ACRS in Beijing. 30 years of ACRS will be a witness of the great success and progress of the development of Remote Sensing achieved in Asia and in the World as well.

CNCRS is grateful to AARS for its selecting of Beijing to be the venue of 30th ACRS. It will be a great and precious chance for China's remote sensing community, and we will make our best efforts and sincerity to insure the 30th ACRS is a success.

We sincerely thank all member countries and regions in AARS, and welcome all of you, no matter you are our old friends or new friends, and no matter you are from Asia, or Oceania, or America, or Europe and or Africa! We are also proud that we will meet so many sincere friends in Beijing in the October this year.

Beijing, an ancient but also modern and vigorous city, has put on more freshness after it has successfully hosted the exceptional Olympic Games 2008. Beijing, with her great enthusiasm, her beauty and her charm, welcome you, all friends from Asian and world's RS scientists!

We together with AARS sincerely invite you to attend the 30th ACRS in Beijing.

Let's meet in Beijing, 18 to 23 October 2009!