GUO Huadong, director-general of the Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth (RADI), and Vladimír Šucha, director-general of the European Commission Joint Research Center (JRC), signed a new collaborative research arrangement during the 17^th China-EU Summit at the EU Council headquarters in Brussels on June 29. The event was witnessed by Chinese Premier LI Keqiang, European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.  

According to the agreement, the two parties will address global challenges related to sustainable development, climate and disaster risk reduction. Cooperation will encompass six major fields of Earth observation and digital Earth including human settlements analysis, a digital Earth science platform, land and soil degradation, air quality, land cover mapping, and agricultural monitoring. Collaborative activities will include exchange of scientific and technological information, joint training programs, implementation of ongoing programs, and projects and activities of mutual interest. 

The RADI-JRC agreement was listed in the 17^th China-EU Summit Joint Statement as one of the summit’s major outcomes. At the 2^nd China-EU Innovation Cooperation Dialogue held the same day, Prof. GUO delivered a talk on the development of Earth observation and digital Earth in China and prospects for SINO-EU cooperation in the field.  

JRC is the European Commission's in-house science service. It employs scientists to carry out research in order to provide independent scientific advice and support for EU policy. The relationship between RADI and JRC builds upon more than a decade of successful cooperation.