The first conference on world geoparks was held in Beijing, China, in June 2004. In August that year, the 32nd International Geological Congress was convened in Florence, Italy. Oral presentations and posters made by hundreds of geologists and geopark administrators from scores of countries of five continents demonstrated the current situation of geoheritage conservation, geoscientific researches on geoheritages, public education, methods and technology of protection, the relations of geoheritages with cultural heritages, with development and planning of cities and regions, and with the development of tourism, the relations between geoparks and national parks, the prospects of geoparks in Europe, America, Africa, Australia and Asia etc. In view of the current situation in foreign countries, we have much to do in relevant legislation construction, researches on geological backgrounds, training of personnel etc. to maintain a leading place in the research and protection of geoheritages.