The urgent needs of social development in China will be the biggest impetus for creating "Digital Earth," said Vice-Premier Li Lanqing on November 29.

Addressing the world's first Symposium on Digital Earth, which opened in Beijing on November 29, Li said that as the world's largest developing country, China is playing an important role in global sustainable growth.

The "Digital Earth" will help promote sustainable growth in China and in turn contribute to the world's sustainable development, he said.

"Digital Earth" is the process by which any geographical location on earth can be digitized and made available for viewing on the Internet, for either economic or military use.

Expertise and hardware needed for launching "Digital Earth" involve information and space technology and related infrastructure, among others.

Li noted that China will expand cooperation with the countries of the world to play an active role in introducing the concept of "Digital Earth," sharing information resources, and creating a digital world.

The symposium is sponsored by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and co-sponsored by the Ministry of Science and Technology, the State Development Planning Commission, and other state organizations.

More than 400 scientists and scholars from 25 countries and regions will be discussing the concept of "Digital Earth" and its development strategy during the four-day symposium.