Keywords: 
• 17^th International Sedimentological Congress /
• sedimentology /
• research frontier

Abstract: The 17^th International Sedimentological Congress was held from August 27 to September 1, 2006, in Fukuoka of Japan. As a pageant of international sedimentology, once four years, a series of academic topics were presented and discussed in different technical programs. More reports and sessions focus the following fields: microbial processes and sedimentation-diagenesis, sedimentary processes and products in deep seas and continental shelves, depositional records and global environmental changes, volcanic-sedimentary tectonics, and other environmental-resource problems on human activity, in which some will still be important research and development fields of international sedimentology and probably become important growing points of basic sedimentology in the near future. However, few research hotspots occurred from terrestrial (non-marine) deposition and continental tectonics, active paleogeography, basinal fluid geodynamics and fluid-rock interaction in the congress. Compared with international sedimentological great powers, it is indicated that both conjuncture and opportunity coexist in the sedimentary development in China. Chinese sedimentologists should occupy important status in international sedimentological frontiers besides contributing their wisdom to national economic development.