On March 26, the launch ceremony for “Wen Jiabao’s Geological Notes,” edited and published by the Geological Publishing House, was held at the Zhongguancun Book Building in Beijing. On the same day, the book also went on sale in numerous cities across China. This book is a work that former State Council Premier Wen Jiabao completed over a period of more than two years after his retirement.

　　At the launch ceremony, Gu Xiaohua, President and Party Secretary of the Geological Publishing House, stated that "Wen Jiabao’s Geological Notes" is not only a systematic and valuable collection of geological historical materials but also an inspiring read. He said, “The editing and publication of this book will help people gain a deeper understanding of the development course of China’s geological work and its fundamental role in providing resource support for the country’s economic and social development. It will also enable people to better appreciate the explorations undertaken at the outset of China’s reform and opening-up period regarding the reform of the management system in the geological sector. Moreover, it will inspire young people to cultivate a correct outlook on life, values, and career aspirations, and actively join the great cause led by the Party Central Committee with Xi Jinping as General Secretary—fully building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and realizing the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.”

　　Gu Xiaohua introduced that this book contains more than 160 work and study notes from Wen Jiabao’s time working in the geological sector from 1968 to 1985, 632 reproduced copies of his handwritten documents, 24 memoir articles written by the author, and over 50 photographs.

　　The notes, memoirs, and photographs included in this book are being published for the first time.

　　The entire book is divided into four parts: field geological expedition notes, management work notes, research notes, and study and research notes. Each part features representative entries selected from the author’s notes and diaries, arranged in chronological order, and vividly reflects the author’s work and learning experiences at various posts and stages within the geological system.

　　To showcase the author’s handwritten notes as fully as possible, this book makes extensive use of photographic reproductions of the notes, which together account for one-third of the book’s total length. At the same time, depending on the content of each section, different organizational approaches have been adopted—sometimes pairing text with images, and at other times using images to stand in for text. These are all important features and distinctive characteristics of this book.

　　In 1968, after graduating from the Graduate School of the Beijing College of Geology, Wen Jiabao was assigned to the Second Regional Survey Team of the Gansu Provincial Bureau of Geology as a technician. For a long period, he engaged in regional geological surveys and mineral exploration work in the Qilian Mountains and Beishan regions, covering parts of Gansu, Qinghai, Xinjiang, and Inner Mongolia. In 1978, Wen Jiabao became the deputy team leader of the Geological Mechanics Team (formerly the Second Regional Survey Team). From 1979 to 1982, he served as deputy director and then deputy bureau chief of the Gansu Bureau of Geology. From 1982 to 1985, he held the positions of director of the Policy and Regulation Research Office and deputy minister of the Ministry of Geology and Mineral Resources. During this period, Wen Jiabao wrote extensive working notes.

　　These notes are not only invaluable records of geological work, but also reflect the growth process of a young geologist and the changes and achievements in China’s geological endeavors during the early years of reform and opening-up.

　　This book is imbued with Wen Jiabao’s deep passion for geology. As he himself wrote in the preface to this book: “In my dreams, I often return to the Qilian Mountains—most vividly, I recall those days when I roamed the wilderness in search of minerals.”