On Sept. 25 - 27, 2008, National Assembly for Soil Science Society of China and also the 7^th Cross-Straits Academic Exchange Seminar on Soil and Fertilizer, sponsored by Soil Science Society of China, was held in Jiuhua Mansion in Beijing. Nearly 1800 delegates on behalf of scientific research, production and teaching sectors from 31 provinces and autonomous regions attended the meeting, and the presence also included 27 representatives from Taiwan province and some other deputies from foreign countries.

With the theme of “sustainable development on soil science and whole society” for the meeting, Academician Zhao Qiguo, fellow researcher of Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and also the former chairman of Soil Science Society of China, Academician Shi Yuanchun, senior professor of China Agricultural University, Prof. Ratten La from Ohio State University, International Pedologist, and Prof. Zhang Fusuo from China Agricultural University, the vice-chairman of the Soil Science Society of China, also dean of College of Resources and Environment in China Agricultural University, made the topic reports titled “Innovation and Development of Modern Soil Science”, “Soil: A New Function", "Restoring Degraded Soils for Advancing Food Security and Mitigating Climate Change” and “New Opportunities for Soil Science”respectively.