The 1st Regional Conference on Asia-Pacific Geoparks and BusinessDialogue was held successfully in Malaysia during the period of 13^th to 15^th November 2007, at which about 200 experts and scholars from ten more countries were present. Its purpose is to promote the construction and development of geoparks in all Asia-Pacific countries, to discuss all interest parties’ views on the progress, problem and challenge of geoheritage in the way of conservation and sustainable use and to establish the regional geopark network cooperation through discussion and dialog.

The conference was jointly organized by the Langkawi Development Authority (LADA), Ministry of Finance, Kedah State Government, UNESCO, the Ministry of Arts, Ministry of Tourism, Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia, Mineral and Goescience Department, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Langkawi Municipal Council, Malaysia Airlines and Malaysia Association of Tour and Travel Agents. It was held in Langkawi, a cluster of 99 islands covering an area of 10,000 hectares, which had been recognised by UNESCO as a geopark since June 1st, 2007. Langkawi has a designated area with several geological heritage sites containing valuable archaeological, ecological, historical and cultural resources.