On the evening of August 28, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, an official DDE community reception was held at The Party Centum in Busan. This exclusive event served as both a reunion for members of the DDE initiative and a welcome ceremony for new participants and potential collaborators who wish to engage with the DDE program in the future.

The reception, which operated on an invitation-only basis, welcomed around 70 attendees from over 15 countries. Secretary-General of the DDE program, Natarajan Ishwaran, presided over the event, while welcoming remarks were delivered by Professor Harvey Thorleifson, President of the DDE Governing Council, and Professor Chengshan Wang, Chair of the DDE Executive Committee.

Highlighting the international scope of the event, Professor Okunlola, President of the Geological Society of Africa, addressed the gathering, expressing strong support for the DDE's actions with African geoscientists. He welcomed the initiative’s deep engagement in African regional development and expressed optimism that the scientific outcomes of DDE would empower African scientists. Professor John Ludden, President of the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS), also attended and spoke, congratulating DDE on its achievements over the past five years and expressing hope for continued collaboration between DDE and IUGS, furthering the advancement and renaissance of geological research.

The reception marked more than just a social gathering; it was also the platform for the launch of the Deep-time Report and the announcement of the DDE Africa Initiative. Professor Hans Thybo, Chair of the DDE Science Committee, presented the Deep-time Report, a collaborative effort with Springer Nature. He provided an overview of the report's development and formally announced its global release. Additionally, Professors Harvey Thorleifson and Okunlola jointly unveiled the DDE Africa Initiative and outlined its initial development plans, which received high praise from the audience.

This reception not only fostered relationships within the DDE community but also served as a significant milestone in the organization's ongoing mission to advance geoscience through international collaboration and innovative initiatives.