On April 22, 2024, the 6th Meeting of the Governing Board (GB) of Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific (China) (RCSSTEAP for short) (hereinafter referred to as the Centre) was held at Beihang University. The meeting was hosted by Mr. Zhang Kejian, Deputy Minister of the Industry and Information Technology of China (MIIT), Administrator of the China National Space Administration (CNSA) and Chairperson of the GB of the Centre. A total of more than forty (40) people attended the meeting, including members of the GB and representatives of the Member States of the Centre, namely Ms. Aarti Holla-Maini, Director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA); Mr. Wang Yunpeng, President of Beihang University and Director of the Advisory Committee of the Centre; Mr. Zhao Weisheng, Vice President of Beihang University and Director of the Centre; Mr. Marco Antonio Chamon, President of Brazilian Space Agency (AEB); Mr. J. Ivan Zambrana Cruz, President of Bolivian Space Agency (ABE); Mr. Adolfo Jose Godoy Pernia, President of Bolivarian Agency for Space Activities (ABAE), and representatives of international organizations, including UNOOSA, the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO) and Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education for Latin America and the Caribbean (CRECTEALC), as well as relevant representatives of the Government of China.
The membership adjustment of the GB was confirmed at the meeting. Mr. Zhang Kejian, Chairperson of the GB, issued the letters of appointment to Mr. Wang Yunpeng, Director of the Advisory Committee of the Centre, and Mr. Zhao Weisheng, Director of the Centre. It also reviewed and adopted the revisions of Establishment and Operation Programme of the Centre (2024), Biennial Work Report 2022-2023 of RCSSTEAP and Biennial Work Plan 2024-2025 of RCSSTEAP.
The members and representatives of the GB and Member States highly appreciated the effective work of the Centre. Focusing on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Work Plan of RCSSTEAP, the participants expressed their views on further exchanges and cooperation, strengthening the Alliance of Regional Centres (ARC), sharing information resources, and providing better services to Member States and other developing countries.
Ms. Aarti Holla-Maini fully recognized the important role played by the Centre in the field of global space education, indicating that the Centre in China was the most active one with the richest academic resources among the six (6) Regional Centres affiliated to the United Nations. She hoped that the Centre would continue to strengthen its cooperation with the United Nations and other international institutions, giving full play to its leading role to expand its influence.
Mr. Wang Yunpeng said that since its establishment in 2014, the Centre has made remarkable achievements in promoting international exchange and cooperation in the field of space science and technology education. As the host institution of the Centre, Beihang University would further deepen exchanges and cooperation with UNOOSA, Member States of the Centre, and other relevant countries and institutions, providing a benchmark for international cooperation in the field of space science and technology education, and building the Centre into a platform to promote international cooperation in education, science and technology, and exchange of talents.
Mr. Zhang Kejian expressed his gratitude to UNOOSA, the Member States and cooperation partners of the Centre for their support, and acknowledged the contributions made by Beihang University to the Centre. He mentioned that since the last GB meeting, the Centre has made positive progress in all aspects of its work, especially with the support of Beihang University, the Centre has expanded its operation space at Beihang Hangzhou International Campus in 2023, which has provided a solid foundation for its further development. In the future, full support will be given to the construction and operation of the Centre and to the talent training in Member States, so as to make new contributions to the peaceful exploration and utilization of outer space.
Before the meeting, Mr. Wang Yunpeng met with Ms. Aarti Holla-Maini and her delegation. The two sides exchanged views and reached a consensus on further exchanges and cooperation with UNOOSA.
Meanwhile, Mr. Zhang Kejian and Mr. Wang Yunpeng met and exchanged views. President Wang introduced Beihang’s efforts in the construction of the Centre. Chairperson Zhang highly praised the work of Beihang University.
