(By Tan Yumin, photo by Xie Yuqian) On April 27, during the Space Day of China activities, envoys from developing countries, such as Kenya, South Africa, Belarus, Venezuela, Malaysia, Indonesia, Egypt, and Kazakhstan, and officials from the Romanian Space Agency were invited by the Permanent Mission of China in Vienna to participate in the event. Arranged by the China National Space Administration, they visited the Hangzhou International Campus of Beihang University, the Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific (China) (Affiliated to the United Nations) (hereinafter referred to as the Regional Centre), and high-tech enterprises in Hangzhou.
In the morning, Dong Zhuoning, Director of Hangzhou International Innovation Institute of Beihang University (H3I), Jin Tian, Deputy Director of the Department of Academic Affairs of Beihang University, Weng Jingnong, Executive Director of the Regional Centre, Jing Guifei, Deputy Director of the Regional Centre and Head of the Hangzhou Platform, and Sun Gongling, Chief Scientist of the Regional Centre and Academician of the International Academy of Astronautics, held a discussion with the delegation. The discussion was chaired by Weng Jingnong.
On behalf of H3I, Dong Zhuoning warmly welcomed the delegation. He elaborated on the development of H3I under the guideline of “high standard, innovative mechanism, and international cooperation”. He also shared remarkable achievements made in international education, cooperation, and exchange. He said that H3I will make every effort to build an international education demonstration zone, a pool of top talents, a hub for interdisciplinary development, a cradle of major scientific research achievements, and an international platform for advanced interdisciplinary studies. With strong support from the Chinese government, disciplinary advantages and international education foundation of Beihang University, and high-quality educational resources of domestic and foreign partners, H3I will strive to transform the Regional Centre into a world-class institution for space science and technology education, which will train more high-level professionals and meet the needs of other countries in exploring and utilizing outer space.
Subsequently, Jing Guifei outlined the achievements made by the Regional Centre over the past decade, including the latest progress of the Alliance of Regional Centres for Space Science and Technology Education (Affiliated to the United Nations) and the strategic plan to further advance global science and technology education by building the United Nations’ space innovation information infrastructure. Jin Tian demonstrated the use of the smart education platform.
Maurice Makoloo, head of the delegation, Ambassador of Kenya to Austria, Permanent Representative of Kenya to the United Nations (Vienna), and Chairman of the G-77 Vienna Chapter, expressed his appreciation for the visit and exchange arranged by H3I and conveyed his keen desire to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in space science and technology education.
After visiting campus living facilities such as the student dormitory, canteen, music hall, classroom, and library, the delegation highly appreciated the advanced educational conditions of the Hangzhou International Campus of Beihang University. Several envoys expressed their hope to encourage more domestic students to visit the institute for exchanges and learning.
At the Regional Centre, the delegation conducted in-depth inspections of the Small Satellite Laboratory, the Remote Sensing Earth Intelligence Laboratory, and the Spatiotemporal Information Laboratory. The delegation had cordial exchanges with students from member countries, who are studying at the Regional Centre, gaining insights into their academic and research progress. In addition, the delegation visited the Asia Simulation Federation (Hangzhou) to further understand Beihang University’s achievements in simulation technology through international cooperation.
In the afternoon, the delegation visited Alibaba Cloud Valley Park, Hangzhou Lingban Technology Co., Ltd., and the Urban Exhibition Hall of the Hangzhou Future Sci-Tech City, fully experiencing the surging vitality of Hangzhou in scientific and technological innovation and industrial development.
H3I will take this exchange as an opportunity to continuously expand global partnerships and promote high-level international cooperation, contributing Beihang's strength to training more international aerospace technicians and fostering global sustainable development.
Approved by Dong Zhuoning, Zhang Wei, Xu Ran
Edited by Yuan Xiaohui
