International Society for Digital Earth (ISDE) in collaboration with Taylor & Francis Group held the launching ceremony of the International Journal of Digital Earth (IJDE) in Beijing, China on March 19, 2008.

The International Journal of Digital Earth is an official journal of the International Society for Digital Earth. A contract was signed between ISDE and Taylor & Francis of the publication of the Journal in February 2007. After a year of preparatory work, the inaugural issue of the journal has been launched. To celebrate the successful publication of the Journal, ISDE and T&F invite some of Executive Committee members of the Society some IJDE Editorial Board members, authors representations of IJDE inaugural issue, and those who made great contribution to the launch of IJDE to witness and enjoy the great moment.

Professor Pan Jiaofeng, the Director-General of the Bureau of Planning and Strategy, CAS, made an opening speech on behalf of C.A.S. He said that the publication of the International Journal of Digital Earth build up an academic platform in the research field of Digital Earth, and it is believed that the Journal will become more and more popular and play an important role in the development of Digital Earth. Professor Chen Shupeng attended the ceremony and delivered a speech as a representative of the authors of the first issue of IJDE. Professor Chen Yuntai and Professor Tong Qingxi expressed their cordially gratulations to the launch of IJDE respectively, and believed that the Journal has started a new career and will have its significant meaning in the future.

Secretariat of the International Society for Digital Earth