Dear Colleagues,

The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) will have the honor to host the 14th Asia-Pacific Legal Metrology Forum Meeting (APLMF) and Working Groups Meetings in Zhouzhuang scheduled from 18-20 October 2007. On behalf of AQSIQ I would extend a warm welcome to all delegates coming to the Forum Meeting.

Taking the honor of hosting this meeting, we also see it a good opportunity to share with our colleagues in international metrology arena a profound understanding of the development of metrology in PR China. Herein, I would give a brief introduction.

AQSIQ is a law-enforcement administrative organ of the State Council in charge of quality, metrology, entry-exit commodity inspection, entry-exit health quarantine, entry-exit animal and plant quarantine, certification and accreditation, and standardization. The Metrology Department of AQSIQ is responsible for unified administration of national metrology work, which mainly includes implementing the measurement units system and national measurement system, organizing the establishment, approval and management of national primary measurement standards and reference materials, formulating national verification system of measuring instruments, verification regulations and general technical regulations, carrying out unit value dissemination, and regulating and supervising prepackage measurement.

PR China has established the national metrological system which comprises of administrative system, legislative system and technical support system for metrology.

PR China’s metrological administrative system operates on 4 levels, namely state, provincial, municipal and county level. The metrology work conducted by the 4-level administrative departments in collaboration with the corresponding metrological technical institutes at 4 levels has been playing an active role in advancing national economy, science and technology, social development and international trade.

PR China’s metrological legislative system includes National Metrology Law, and regulations formulated by metrological administrative departments, and local rules set by provincial and municipal departments. The metrological legislative system keeps in line with related international practice and also meets the needs in PR China.

The metrological technical institutes have established 177 national primary standards and more than 43000 measurement standards for public service. By disseminating standards values and by participating in international comparisons, the accuracy and reliability of quantity values and their international traceability is guaranteed.

PR China has also proactively promoted international cooperation and exchange in the field of metrology. Starting from 1960s, PR China has joined international and regional metrology organizations such as the Meter Convention, OIML, and IMEKO etc. As representative of PR China, AQSIQ has attended the meetings of these international and regional legal metrology organizations and participated in the activities. For instance, PR China has participated in developing and revising international recommendations, and has undertaken the responsibility of Secretariat work of OIML TC17/SC1 Humidity, TC10/SC1 Barometer and TC18/SC2 sphygmomanometer. Meanwhile, PR China keeps a sound cooperative relationship with many legal metrology authorities worldwide, and has signed more than 20 cooperation agreements and memorandums with other countries.

The 14th APLMF Meeting will be held at the Pavilion Boat of Zhouzhuang which is located in Kunshan County, Jiangsu Province. Zhouzhuang is a beautiful waterside town in South China. This ancient town has a history of more than 900 years with well-preseved houses built in the Ming and Qing Dynasties,which not only embody the ancient archetecure art but also reflect the exquisit measurement techniques in ancient China. I believe delegates will get a great opportunity to enjoy Chinese hospitality.

Look forward to seeing you in Zhouzhuang.

Yours sincerely,

Pu Changcheng
Vice-Minister AQSIQ (General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine)