The first United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress held in Deqing, Zhejiang Province, China, from 19 to 21 November 2018 was convened under the auspices of the United Nations. During the congress, the Secretary-General of the United Nations delivered a video message in which he highlighted the role of geospatial information management towards implementing the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development. 

"Your dedication, expertise and guidance - in geospatial data, methods, frameworks, tools and platforms - is urgently needed. The data needs for the SDGs are great, and time is not on our side. Reliable, timely, accessible and disaggregated geospatial information must be brought to bear to measure progress, inform decision-making and ensure effective and inclusive national and sub-national programs that will chart the path toward the 'Geospatial Way to a Better World', to assist in the implementation of the SDGs, and transform the world for the better."

António Guterres
Secretary-General of the United Nations
(video message to the United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress)
19 november 2018

The message once again stressed the importance of disaggregated geospatial information and national ownership which are both at the core of the objectives of the SALB programme. The congress provided a convening, participatory and inclusive environment to intensity collaboration at the regional and global levels. The congress concluded on the Moganshan Declaration, issued on behalf of participants, that resolved to work together to build a human data and geography community for a shared and better future, and to keepthe promise to leave no one behind by fostering cross-sector and interdisciplinary international, regional and local collaboration and partnerships, and to support national development priorities.  

^{Deqing International Convention Centre}