The mission of CERS is to EXPLORE remote regions of China, conduct multi-disciplinary RESEARCH, CONSERVE nature and culture, and EDUCATE through dissemination of results in popular channels.

-	CERS is pre-eminent in exploring China's remote region
-	CERS has one of the most extensive collections of photographs on remote China (over 150,000 images taken from 1974 to present)
-	CERS has one of the most extensive video collections on remote China's wildlife and ethnic culture
-	CERS has exclusive access to one of the most extensive library of books, Chinese and English, on remote China
-	CERS has one of the most exquisite ethnographic collections of objects on Chinese minorities
-	CERS has successfully identified, designed and implemented important conservation projects in remote China
-	CERS continuously attract the attention of some of the biggest television media in the world, including CNN, ABC, BBC, CNBC, Discovery Channel and others
-	CERS is supported by a small group of individuals with vision, and responsible corporations including Shell, HSBC, UBS, IBM, Coca-Cola, Kodak, Panasonic, Sony, Land Rover, and others