The first China Space Summit was held in Harbin, capital city of Heilongjiang province from April 23 to 25. It is the main activity to mark China’s Space Day, which falls each year on April 24.

The event is sponsored by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, as well as China National Space Administration, in an effort to establish an influential platform for academic exchanges and the promotion of aerospace knowledge.

During the event, around 2,000 delegates from governments, businesses, universities, and research institutes, as well as astronauts, will discuss topics centering around the development and innovation of space technology, remote sensing applications, international cooperation, commercialization of space technology, and the promotion of aerospace culture and space.

At the opening ceremony of the summit, the names of the two small satellites which will be launched to space along with the Chang'e-4 repeater satellite this May were announced –– Longjiang-1 and Longjiang-2.

Also, China National Space Administration, China Meteorological Administration and the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization reached an agreement to cooperate on weather forecasting, disaster prevention, and responding to the impact of climate change in the member states of the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization, by fully utilizing China’s Fengyun-series meteorological satellites.

Other activities including aerospace exhibitions, forums on cutting-edge technologies of rockets and space robots, and an aerospace knowledge contest will also be held in 31 provinces and municipalities, as well as two special administrative regions.

 The First China Space Summit is unveiled at Harbin Institute of Technology in Harbin, capital city of Northeast China’s Heilongjiang province on April 24.[Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

The First China Space Summit is held at Harbin Institute of Technology in Harbin, capital city of Northeast China’s Heilongjiang province on April 24.[Photo/dbw.cn]

 Long Lehao, an academician at the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, delivers a speech at the First China Space Summit held at Harbin Institute of Technology in Harbin, capital city of Northeast China’s Heilongjiang province on April 24.[Photo/dbw.cn]