On fourth, August, 2004, the Fourth International Symposium on the Tibetan Plateau opened in Lahsa. More than 150 specialists from over twenty countries worldwide participated in this symposium, including Paul Tapponnier, French structural geologist and professor in French research center, Lonnie Thompson, world famous geologist and professor of Ohio University, Toshio Koike, hydrologist and professor in Tokyo University, Rick Batlarbee, British paleoclimatologist and professor in London University. Present are also such officers as Xiangbapingcuo, Chairman of the Tibetan Autonomous Region, Wu Yingjie, Vice Chairman, Qin Dahe, director of State Meteorological Administration, Liu Yanhua, Vice Minister of Ministry of Science and Technology, Li Jiayang, Vice Presidnet of CAS, Luosang Lingzhiduojie, General Secretary of Gansu Province and Ma Xilin, deputy Governor of Gansu Province.

The International Symposium on the Tibetan Plateau was initiated by CAS in 1980, offering the first opportunity for academic exchange between Chinese scientific research staff and world scientists. The second symposium was held in 1992 in Kashi, XinJiang Ugur Autonomous Region. The last symposium was opened in Xi Ning, Qinghai Province, in 1998. Symposium this year has received international attention and financial support. About 336 theses and dissertations were shared by all the participants in the symposium. This number surpasses that in any of the former conferences, showing a growing attention to Tibetan Plateau research from the world.

Their research mainly focuses on the following five aspects:1) the forming of the Plateau and geodynamics;2) the uplifting of the Plateau and its influence on the environment; 3) landscaping concerning global change;4) alpine climate and climatology;5)resources and environment on the Plateau and sustainable development.

Prof Sun Honglie presided over the opening ceremony. Prof. Lu Yongxiang, President of CAS sent his best regard to the conference with a congratulation letter. Official officers present at the meeting also extended their welcome to the participants and best wishes to the symposium. This symposium ended on 7^th, August.