Chinese Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan has urged the country's surveying and mapping workers to use new technologies and equipment to provide more accurate geographical information about the nation.

The surveying and mapping workers have made great contributions to the country by providing reliable geographical information, Zeng said while visiting fieldworking staff of the sector recently.

He urged the sector to use new technologies and equipment to guarantee successful implementation of the country's key mapping projects.

The country's surveying and mapping efforts paid off in recent years, as the sector found in 2005 the precise summit of Mount Qomolangma, known as Mount Everest in the west, to be 8,844.43 meters, 3.7 meters shorter than the figure measured three decades ago.

It has also completed a 1:50000 database for the national fundamental geographic information system in 2006.

Officials from the State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping said the 1:50000 topographic map is one of the mostly used maps in economic fields.

Zeng called on the surveying and mapping workers to continue to enrich the country's basic geographical information in the future.

(Xinhua News Agency September 17, 2007)