Sponsored by both China and UK space agencies, the 13th UK-China Workshop of Space Science and Technology was held in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province from December 11 to 13. Beihang University is among the co-organizers of the event.
At the workshop
About 200 experts and government officials attended the workshop and discussed in depth on the eight issues such as trade and policies, space detection and astronomy, earth observation, new space technologies, and so on.
In the meantime, the plan to explore new modes of international cooperation in the field of civil space in 2019 was worked out on the basis of the UK-China Joint Laboratory for Space Science and Technology.
China and UK have established a good relationship through cooperation in the past years, and have distinct characteristics and advantages in carrying out space science and technology research, said Tian Yulong, Administrator of China National Space Administration. He expressed the hope that, with the joint laboratory as a platform, both sides would continue the substantial cooperation between the two governments, technological departments, universities and institutions. The efforts are expected to be fruitful, laying a solid foundation for further bilateral cooperation in the future.
Tian Yulong delivering his speech
The present achievements made by the two countries, according to Fang Jiancheng, Vice President of Beihang University and Academician of CAS, have gained international reputation. Beihang University has always been devoting to building internationalized teams, modes of talents cultivation and scientific cooperation. Together with Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL), Beihang established the UK-China Joint Laboratory for Space Science and Technology in 2007.
Fang Jiancheng delivering his speech
The UK and China’s partnership in the area of Space was formalized in 2005 when Lord Sainsbury (then UK Minister for Science and Innovation) and Dr Sun Laiyan (then Administrator for the Chinese National Space Administration) signed a Memorandum of Understanding as part of the Science Initiative with China programme. Since then, scientists, industrialists, engineers and policy makers have come together from both countries across a broad spectrum of space, and 12 annual joint space workshops have been held to date.
At the workshop
Reported by Wang Qing, Li Luyang
Reviewed by He Sha, Xu Lijun
Edited by Song Chao and Li Siying
Translated by Li Siying
