During October 24-26, 2013, annual academic exchanges and communication were held at ITP for the "Strategic Priority Research Program（B）" of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Gathering on this occasion aimed to discuss research achievement within the program in 2013, to lay out next-year’s research plan, and to clarify relevant policies in the implementation.

Annual summary of noteworthy breakthroughs in the program include the following aspects:

1)      Timing, mode and process for the Indian-Eurasian continental collision

2)      Lithospheric and geochemical evidences for the northward subduction of the Indian continental crust during ecocene, and ensuing thickening of the plateau crust

3)      Study of the Early Jurasaic arc-magna rock belt and prophyry copper deposit in the southern Gangdes

4)      Paleo-elevation of the Zada basin

5)      Timing of the Yangtze eastward river system formation and its tectonic and geomorphological significance

6)      Reconstructing the evolution theory of our ape-like ancestors

7)      Three atmospheric domains of the Tibetan Plateau revealed from precipitation stable isotopes and interaction of the westerlies and Indian Summer Monsoon influences

8)      Evolution of the westerly-monsoon boundary on the Tibetan Plateau since last glacial maximum

9)      Effect of climate changes on phenology on the Tibetan Plateau.