Noting that:

1. Working Group 3 has completed a major geodetic campaign, and has commenced or identified a number of other important geodetic activities;
   
   
2. Working Groups 1, 2 and 4 have also reached significant milestones in their tasks and have presented substantial reports to the Meeting;
   
   
3. the participation rate of member countries needs to be improved, through programs that deliver practical benefits and support national development;

the 4^th Meeting of the PCGIAP recommends that Working Groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 be concluded, and that the following structure be implemented with key projects and tasks as listed:

1. Executive / Secretariat
   
   - finalise, approve and publish the APSDI framework document
   
   
2. Working Group 1: Regional Geodetic Network
   
   - implement a regional precise geodetic network
   - define a regional horizontal geodetic datum
   - investigate a regional vertical geodetic datum
   
   
3. Working Group 2: Regional Fundamental Data
   
   - develop a policy for sharing regional fundamental data
   - define and integrate regional fundamental datasets
   - identify Asia-Pacific SDI data nodes
   - undertake regional GIS application demonstrations
   
   
4. Taskforce: Development Needs
   
   - identify members’ NSDI development needs
   - recommend support programs and funding options
   
   

Noting the:

1. evolving operational arrangements of the PCGIAP;
   
   
2. new structure agreed at Tehran for the Committee's work program;
   
   
3. the initiatives of other regional and global SDI bodies;

the 4^th Meeting of the PCGIAP recommends that the Executive Board:

1. review the existing Statutes;
   
   
2. prepare a revised set of Statutes for consideration by the Committee at the 5^th Meeting.

Noting that:

1. the availability of fundamental data from member countries is essential to the:
   
   - development of the Asia-Pacific spatial data infrastructure;
   - realisation of the economic, social and environmental benefits of GIS;
   - and the implementation of the UN Agenda 21;
   
   
2. data sharing avoids wasteful duplication of resources and facilitates data integration;
   
   
3. the content, scale and technical specifications of the regional fundamental data are currently being defined by the Committee through Working Group 2;

the 4^th Meeting of the PCGIAP recommends that member countries consider adopting the following principles:

1. Availability: member countries shall produce and maintain their component of the regional fundamental data, in conjunction with development of their national spatial data infrastructures;
   
   
2. Access: regional fundamental data produced by member countries shall be made available to other member countries in a manner that facilitates their use in regional economic, social and environmental applications;

and that members report on the outcome of their consideration at the next meeting of the PCGIAP.

Noting the:

1. Success of the APRGP97 campaign; and the
   
   
2. importance of linking national geodetic datum to the regional geodetic datum determined by APRGP97;

the 4^th Meeting of the PCGIAP encourages all member countries to participate in:

1. the regional geodetic campaign planned for October 1998; and
   
   
2. the WG1 workshop to be held in Canberra, Australia, July 2-3 1998, which will finalise the results of APRGP97 and plan the 1998 campaign.

Noting that:

1. Working Group 2 will be developing definitions of the content, scale and technical specifications of regional fundamental data;
   
   
2. these definitions are critical to the development of the APSDI;

the 4^th Meeting of the PCGIAP recommends that :

1. member countries actively participate in the activities of WG2, in particular in the development of the definitions and in their formal consideration at the 5^th Meeting of PCGIAP.

Noting the:

• excellent administrative arrangements and outstanding hospitality provided by the Iranian Organising Committee

the 4^th Meeting of the PCGIAP:

• expresses its deep appreciation to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran and to the National Cartographic Center for their efforts in making the 4^th Meeting both successful and enjoyable.

Noting the:

• generous offer from China to host the 5^th Meeting of the PCGIAP and the excellent administrative arrangements that have been proposed;

the 4^th Meeting of the PCGIAP recommends:

• that the 5^th Meeting of the PCGIAP be held in Beijing, China, on 19-23 April 1999.