Conclusion

All these results could only be obtained thanks to the joint efforts of the two teams, and thanks to the efficiency of the Chinese team, who had prepared the complete logistics of the expedition.
 In all regions,  we were given a warm welcome by the inhabitants as well as by the authorities. In certain counties, where they became very interested in the results of our work, they did not hesitate to put the whole of their limited logistical means and, especially, vehicles at our disposal. In other counties, where the interest of our work was no realized, they attached solely commercial meaning to our exchanges and were far from favouring our investigations. However, our studies of the terrain could provide the basic knowledge necessary for the understanding and global vision of the karst on the one hand, and the evaluation of its significance on the other hand. For in these densely populated regions the birth rate, desertification, the coming to an end of natural resources, and pollution represent serious problems with consequences difficult to assess. We also hope that our work might, at least to some small degree, contribute to drawing attention to this true challenge confronting the country.
 From the speleological point of view, this second expediton seems to open new perspectives for exploration : apart from the gigantic and innumerable tunnel-caves, we now know that China also has altitudinal zones of high potential. From the scientific point of view, the field of research connected with the karst is simply as huge as the country itself.
 As far as our organisation is concerned, a few points remain to be improved: the reduction of the cost of certain extremely high charges; the access to maps for the two teams; and at least the exemption from restrictions relating to camp location. The work that can be done and its results, directly depend on these three important points. We shall continue in our efforts to improve them during future cooperation.
 On the part of the Chinese as well as of the French, financing is one of the most delicate problems to be resolved. Despite the quality and utility of the work, the percentage of external funding is hardly 50 % of the expedition´s total budget!
 Apart from this report and numerous articles published around the world, the expedition also exists in pictures; together with the film "Dans l'aven du dragon" by Denis Van Berleere, which was awarded a prize at the Barcelona festival, there are thousands of photographs and slides which retrace this adventure .
 This expedition will be followed by a new one which will render the cooperation which started nearly six years ago even more concrete. By this project, we shall continue the trip across this fabulous karst, that Xu Xiake, the famous Chinese geographer, began 400 years ago.