In a keynote speech, Li demonstrated how spatio-temporal intelligence supports SDG monitoring, including disaster tracking and economic mapping. CAS academician Guo Huadong highlighted China's Big Earth Data program, including the SDGSAT-1 satellite and a UNESCO-backed Digital SDGs initiative.

This marks the third time the symposium has been held in China since its inception in 1999. It will conclude with the adoption of the 2025 Chongqing Declaration on Digital Earth. More than 50 parallel sessions will explore topics including AI applications, disaster reduction and big data sharing.