On December 9, 2019, the Regional Center for Space Science and Technology Education in the Asia-Pacific Region (RCSSTEAP-China) affiliated to the United Nations celebrated its fifth anniversary and held the fourth meeting of the governing board at Beihang University. Among attendees were Zhang Kejian, Director of the China National Space Administration (CNSA), Wu Yanhua, Deputy Director of CNSA, Luc St-Pierre, a senior program officer for the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), Xu Huibin, President of Beihang University and Director of the center’s advisory board, Tao Zhi, Vice President of Beihang University, foreign envoys in China, and representatives from member states, UNOOSA as well as other international organizations.
The meeting
The meeting was presided over by Zhang Kejian, head of CNSA, who was also elected as chairman of the center’s governing board. During the meeting, the board reviewed reports both on the advisory board’s work and on the center’s work from 2018 to 2019, and approved the center’s work plan from 2020 to 2021. In addition, the board agreed to cultivate overseas students based on Beihang’s advantage in space science and environment, a newly-added major of the School of Space and Environment of Beihang University. Participants of the meeting shared their opinions on issues like strengthening staff management and institutional improvement, achieving sustainable development and organizing education and training programs. Besides, extensive discussions on how to provide better services for member states and other developing countries, how to improve its capability and infrastructure facilities and how to expand its global influence were also underway in the meeting.
Zhang Kejian, head of CNSA, chaired the meeting
At the meeting, Wu Yanhua, Deputy Director of CNSA delivered a speech on behalf of the host country. He said that China, as the sponsor and host country of the center, will collaborate with other member states and international communities to promote economic and social development of the Asia-Pacific region and contribute its wisdom and power. China and other member states as well as international communities will remain committed to the common goal, namely “to promote sustainable development in space science and technology education”, adhere to the “win-win” development principle in international space cooperation, stay true to the original mission and continue to go along the “path” to integrate technology with education by developing space projects.
Wu Yanhua, Deputy Director of CNSA, delivered a speech
Luc St-Pierre, a senior program officer of UNOOSA, commended the contribution of the regional center to the peaceful use of outer space for the benefit of mankind and the development of space science and technology education in the Asia-Pacific region.
Luc St-Pierre, a senior program officer of UNOOSA, delivered a speech
Beihang President Xu Huibin said that the university is committed to building the regional center into a globally recognized educational institution and a key platform for global space science and technology exchange and cooperation. Relentless efforts will also be made to serve development needs of all countries for exploring and using outer space, and to enhance abilities of the center’s member states and other developing countries in space science and technology education and space technology applications.
Beihang President Xu Huibin delivered a speech
With the proposal of “delivering benefits to mankind through peaceful use of space technology”, the meeting centered on the vision to promote sustainable development in space science and technology education and engaged in in-depth discussions on boosting the Asia-Pacific economic and social development through space cooperation and talent cultivation. After the meeting, the center’s fifth anniversary celebration was held to review its five years’ remarkable achievements in education, cooperation and personnel training.
The group photo of participants
The center, established in 2014 and based at Beihang University, is the first institution among Chinese universities affiliated to the United Nations and also the first inter-governmental regional institution of space science and technology education in the Asia-Pacific region. Its aim is to benefit all human beings through the peaceful use of space technology. The center will take advantage of global outstanding education resources, innovate the way to cultivate talents and build itself into a world-class space science and technology education institution, which will not only enhance all members and other developing countries’ capabilities of space technology education and applications, but also facilitate sustainable economic and social development in the region.
Over the past five years, Beihang has remained committed to the development of global space education based on its own advantage in terms of disciplines and faculty. Since its inception five years ago, the center has always adhered to its development philosophy of “openness, innovation and inclusiveness”, and cultivated a total of 237 master and doctoral students for 24 developing countries in fields of remote sensing and geographical information system, satellite communication, the global navigation satellite system, small satellite technology and space law and policy. The center has also organized over 20 short-term training courses, training nearly 1,000 talents from 64 countries. Besides nine member states, it now has established partnership with over 30 international organizations, space institutions as well as companies. It has proposed and led several international cooperation projects, such as constructing a multi-task small satellite constellation and engaging college students in small satellite research, providing an important carrier for the Asia-Pacific space technology cooperation.
Reported by Yang Shengquan
Photographed by Di Bailu
Reviewed by Weng Jingnong
Edited by Jia Aiping
Translated by Feng Yueyue
