Mr. Chairman,
At the outset, please allow me to congratulate you on your election as Chairman of the S&T Subcommittee on behalf of the Chinese Delegation. I am convinced that under your able guidance, this session will achieve full success.
China's space endeavour has gone through 52 years of glorious development since its start in 1956 and has made significant contributions to strengthening its economic power, science and technology competence, national defence capability and national unity. Through decades of effort, our country has now acquired five major capabilities to carry out space activities. Number one is the ability to enter outer space. We have so far developed altogether 12 types of different launch vehicles of the Long March series and made over 100 launches. Our launching capacity reaches high orbits, middle orbits and low orbits. Number two is satellite R&D and application capability. Over 80 satellites already launched have been developed on our own. Those now flying in orbit comprise mainly remote sensing series, communication series, navigation - positioning series and scientific experiment series, rendering great service to national economic development. Number three is space-faring infrastructure and ground support. We have created a sound infrastructure for the design, manufacturing, testing and assessment of launch vehicles and spacecraft. We have constructed 3 space launch sites in Jiuquan, Xichang and Taiyuan and a wide space flight monitoring and mission control network. Ground stations and application systems have also been put in place for quite a number of meteorological satellites, ocean satellites, resource satellites and communication and broadcast satellites. Number 4 is the ability of manned space flight. With the successful flights of Shenzhou 5 and 6 manned by our astronauts , China is the third country in the world which has mastered the technique of human space flight. Number 5 is the outer space exploration capability. Important progress has been made in phase one of China's moon probe project. Lunar orbitor Chang'e 1 was successfully launched on October 24, 2007. It entered lunar orbit on November 7, 2007, thus marking another milestone in the space effort of China after the launch of its first artificial satellite in 1970 and then the manned space flight in 2003. Here, on behalf of China National Space Administration, I would like to express my appreciation to ESA as well as other countries and agencies for their help to China's lunar orbiting project.
China has achieved rapid progress in the development of application satellites. Satellite 02B of the Resource Satellite 1 series was successfully launched on September 19, 2007 with high-resolution payloads. Research and development work on satellites 03/04 is now smoothly under way. Fengyun satellite 2D, launched in December 2006, is an orbital backup to Fengyun satellite 2C and the two satellites can carry out synchronous weather observation. Ocean satellite 1B was successfully launched on April 11, 2007, which brought about considerable technological improvements over its predecessor 1A and is now already in service. In September 2006, the retractable Space Breeder Satellite was launched with 236 kilos of food crop seeds on board. China has also successfully developed the publicly accessible platform of the Dongfanghong satellite 4, which features large output, powerful carrying capacity and long service life. On May 14, 2006, the Nigerian communication satellite developed by China and using the public platform of Dongfanghong satellite 4 was launched successfully and was delivered to Nigeria in obit. China successfully put into obit Jinnuo 3 communication satellite on June 1, 2006 and the test satellite for the Beidou 2 navigation satellite system on April 14, 2007, which provides a sound basis for the establishment of China's next generation of navigation satellite systems. Unfortunately, we must admit that as a result of failure to open its satellite antenna and solar panels due to technical reasons, the Jinnuo 2 direct TV broadcast satellite, which was launched in October 2006 has not been able to operate so far. However, development on subsequent direct TV broadcast satellites will continue as planned.
The Chinese government attaches great importance to the application of satellites. In the area of remote sensing, the data collected by the China-Brazil resource satellite are being provided free of charge to public sector users and research institutions in the two countries, which has greatly expanded the scope of satellite applications. So far, more than 220,000 multi-imagery data sets have been provided to more than 1,500 users, resulting in significant social and economic benefits. We are confident that the successful launch of the satellite 02B of the Resource Satellite 1 series will further widen the scope of application and meet the needs of its users. Fengyun 2D and Fengyun 2C satellites provide backup to each other in obit and can ensure the daily transmission of 96 images in times of high demand. This has not only widened the scope of observation, but also increased the frequency of observation and has greatly improved the stability and reliability of the meteorological observation service provided by China's satellites. In the field of communication application, China has developed and launched Jinnuo 3 satellite and Zhongxing 6B satellite. In terms of satellite navigation, China's National Space Administration has started a special program aimed at marketing and industrial production of Beidou satellite system for civilian use. A total of 400 million RMB has been invested in this program, which will be used to carry out 16 projects on solutions of major technical problems and application demonstrations. In addition, CNSA is now actively pushing forward the comprehensive construction of the ground systems for earth observation satellites such as the small satellites for environmental disaster reduction and resource satellite 02B as well as the phase one construction of the ground application system for Fengyun 3 satellite. The total investment in this regard amounted to over 1.8 billion RMB.
Funded by the Chinese government, China National Space Administration and the Secretariat for Asia-Pacific Multilateral Cooperation jointly hosted a 9-month-long Master's training program on Asia-Pacific Space Technology Applications from July 2006 to April 2007 in Beijing. Undertaken by Beihang University, 18 trainees from 8 countries in the APAC region participated in the program. Focusing on remote-sensing technology and its application and in line with the curriculum requirement set by UNOOSA, a total number of 22 required and elective courses, 5 hands-on courses and 15 thematic lectures are set for the program, thus enhancing the APAC's international space capabilities and promoting the application of space technologies in the APAC region.
China has actively promoted multilateral international cooperation in the following fronts: the signing the Sino-Russian Joint Mars-Martian Satellites-Exploration Agreement; China's on-going preparation to set up CNSA's representative office in the Russian Federation; the establishment of Sino-UK Space Science and Technology Joint Laboratory; the confirmed plan on the continuous development of the next-generation advanced China-Pakistani earth resource satellite; the successful launch and delivery for service of Nigerian communication satellite; the intensive development of Venezuelan communication satellite and the planned launch next year; the formal entry into force of the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization Convention and 7 countries' ratification of the Convention; the formal setting-up of SPIDER multilateral mechanism under UNOOSA framework with China's strong advocacy; China's formal subscription to the Charter on the Intergovernmental Use of Space Facilities for Disaster Reduction and the joining in the ICG as well as her to active participation in the inter-organizational space debris mitigation efforts and in ISECG and GEO.
Mr. chairman,
Under the relevant sections of the 11th 5-year space development plan approved by the Chinese government, China in the next few years will focus on such major projects as the lunar exploration phase II project, human spaceflight project, high-resolution earth observation project, and next-generation large launch vehicles, among others. Meanwhile, China will continue to push for the early approval of the high-resolution 3-D mapping satellite, the FY-2C meteorological satellite and FY-4 new GSO meteorological satellite and new ocean satellite projects. China will complete the R&D and launch of the following satellites: resource-1C, Ocean-2, FY-3 meteorological satellite, and the 3 satellites of an environmental monitoring and disaster reduction small-satellite constellation; build a national satellite live broadcasting system, press ahead with research on wideband, multimedia audio broadcasting satellites to ensure that our indigenously developed communications and broadcasting satellites meet domestic needs; launch specialized new-technology experimental satellites, validate new technologies, equipment and components; strengthen space science research, give priority support to indigenous innovation projects oriented toward major issues of science, development of solid x-ray telescope and recoverable micro-gravity satellite; development and completion of international cooperation projects like the joint Sino-Russian Martian Exploration; initially build up a space environmental monitoring system to improve our understanding of and enhance our ability to explore the space environment. We strive, before the 11th 5-year plan period is out, to significantly increase the number and types and considerably improve the performance of orbiting satellites, with more satellites in routine operation.
In the next 3 years, China will complete the development and launch of the joint Sino-Russian Martian and Phobos exploration project, and open a representative office in the Russian Federation; implement projects within the framework of Sino-ESA cooperation, allow the joint Sino-UK space science and technology lab to function as a platform for technological exchanges, move Sino-French cooperative projects forward substantively, define a follow-up Sino-Brazilian cooperation plan, vigorously promote the wide application of satellite remote-sensing data in the Asia-Pacific and Africa; in-orbit delivery of a Venezuelan communications satellite and completion of associated cooperative projects; formally establish the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization and start implementation of substantive cooperative projects. We will vigorously boost the export of space products and services in the Asia-Pacific region; continue supporting the activities of the UN and intergovernmental organizations in the peaceful uses of outer space, establish the Beijing office of UN-SPIDER and promote disaster reduction work using space technology in the Asia-Pacific region; and as a member state participating in the International Charter "space and major disasters", China will improve its working mechanisms and fulfill its commitments. In addition, we will strengthen further cooperation with countries and international organizations concerned in the fields of remote sensing, communications, and navigation, among others, and intensify research in such areas of space science as life sciences, micro-gravity experiments, space environment exploration, and solar-terrestrial physics, and explore multiple forms of international cooperation, including the Kuafu program, and seismic and electromagnetic monitoring satellite.
Mr. chairman, exploration and peaceful use of outer space is a complex, arduous, high-risk and high-input enterprise, difficult to accomplish by one or two countries individually. Therefore, extensive international cooperation has become an effective way to promote and popularize space science, technology and applications for the benefit of humanity. To this end, the Chinese government will continue, under the principles of equality, mutual benefit, peaceful use and joint development, to constantly strengthen and expand exchanges and cooperation with other countries in the space field and contribute to the peaceful uses of outer space.
Thank you, Mr. chairman.