The 9th Space Science Bilateral Meeting between ESA and CAS held in Italy
The 9th ESA (European Space Agency)-China Space Science Bilateral Meeting kicked off in Palermo, Italy on May 2, 2013. Chinese delegation headed by YIN Hejun, vice president of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) attended the meeting.
YIN delivered a speech at the opening ceremony stressing the importance of the ESA-China bilateral cooperative mechanism. “Up to now, 8 bilateral seminars have been held under the joint effort of ESA and CAS. The bilateral cooperative mechanism has so far achieved quite a few positive results including the Double Star Program and provides a solid platform for space science scientists from both sides.” Yin hoped that ESA and CAS will work closely and achieve closer and deeper cooperation by proposing and developing new satellite mission together.
Alvaro Gimenez, Director of ESA’ Science Directorate expressed his support towards China’s new developments and new projects in the field of space science. “China is welcomed to participate in all ESA’s science programs. I am also looking forward to further in-depth cooperation between both sides by proposing space science mission together. “
The ESA delegation introduced their ongoing space science programs and WU Ji, Director General of National Space Science Center (NSSC), introduced CAS’s Strategic Pioneer Program on Space Science, followed by an action report of the 8th ESA-China bilateral meeting by WANG Chi, Deputy Director General of NSSC.
Both parties discussed in detail the mechanism of proposing a space science mission together with Chinese and European Scientists. A minute was signed by both parties to promote further cooperation in the upcoming year.
The ESA-China Space Science Bilateral Meeting was initiated by ESA and China in 2004 when Mr. JIANG Mianheng, former vice president of CAS, visited the headquarters of ESA and was received by David Southwood, Science Director of ESA. Both parties reached a consensus to establish a regular consultative mechanism in the field of space science.
The 10th ESA-China Space Science Bilateral Meeting will be held in China in 2014.
opening ceremony of the 9th Space Science Bilateral Meeting between ESA and CAS ( Image by NSSC)
