From 5th to 10th of February 2017, Mr. Huang Haijun, Vice President of Beihang University, Mr. Weng Jingnong, Deputy Director of the Centre and Dean of International School, Beihang University, and Ms. Tan Yumin, expert of RS&GIS, Beihang University attended the 54th Session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space as members of the Chinese delegation.
On Behalf of the Centre, Mr. Huang Haijun, Vice President of Beihang University gave an English technical report on Progress and Plan of the UN Regional Centre in China (RCSSTEAP). The report reviewed the Center's main work in 2016 and gave a general introduction of the First Advisory Committee Meeting of RCSSTEAP, 2017 New Year Reception and Forum on Space Technology Applications. In addition, it has been planned to enroll students in Remote Sensing & Geographical Information Systems (RS&GIS), Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and Micro-satellite Technology from the Member States and other developing countries and hold a forum on space technology application in South Hemisphere. He also made two suggestions at the meeting. The first one was to set up Textbook Editorial Board, which sought to contribute to the development of the UN Regional Centres with providing a series of textbooks. The alliance of the first-class universities in the field of space technology applications in the Member States would also better encourage the talent cultivation in space technology applications. The second one was to build a new school named School of International Space Science and Technology (Asia-Pacific School for short) with enrollment of four-year undergraduates taught in English. It would be a great opportunity for the Centre to cultivate undergraduate talents in space technology applications and further promote resource sharing. The report got enthusiastic response and attracted delegates from Jordan, Mexico, Nigeria, Sri Lanka. They communicated with representatives of the Center to pursue cooperation.
Chairwoman Ms. Chiaki Mukai, representatives from Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Venezuela expressed their thanks to the Centre’s help in their speeches. They also praised its fruitful work which promoted exchanges and cooperation among the UN Regional Centres and pushed forward the development of “Programme on Space Applications” promoted by the United Nations.
The meeting was very productive. During the conference, the Center's representatives discussed the work plan of the Centre, Director Meeting of the UN Regional Centres in 2017, undergraduate program of space technology applications and the 3rd Meeting of the Governing Board with Ms. Simonetta Di Pippo, Director of the Office for Outher Space Affairs (UNOOSA) Mr. Luc St-Pierre, Director of the United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UNSPIDER), Mr. Shirish Ravans, former Director of UNSPIDER Beijing Office. In addition, the Center's representatives also communicated with Mr. Ganiy I.Agbaje, the Director of the UN Regional Centre in Nigeria, Mr. Amni Moh’d Kasawneh, Director of the UN Regional Centre in Jordan, Doctor Sanath Panawennag from Ministry of Science and Technology of Sri Lanka, Mr. Thomas H. Cecere, expert of USGS Landsat Data from the United States and reached a preliminary cooperation intention.
