【January 24,CMSP News】The International Space Exploration Forum (ISEF) and Heads of Space Agencies Summit were hosted in Washington DC, USA January 9-10, 2014. Chinese delegation led by Xu Dazhe, Administrator of China National Space Administration, and Wang Zhaoyao, Director General of China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) attended the forum and summit. Chinese delegation voiced China’s attitude and policies on international space cooperation. Throughout the conference, delegations from many countries extended congratulations on China’s success in Shenzhou 10 and Chang'e-3 missions and expressed willingness to cooperate with China.

Figure 1: International Space Exploration Forum (ISEF)

The International Space Exploration Forum (ISEF) builds on a process started at the 2011 High-Level International Space Exploration Dialogue hosted by the European union  , the European Space Agency, and the Government of Italy in Lucca, Italy. The International Space Exploration Forum (ISEF) in 2014 is the first-ever ministerial-level meeting to build political support for global cooperation in space exploration. The meeting, hosted by  U.S. Department of State, gathered nearly 300 officials from 37 countries and space agencies. The aim of the forum is to form high-level dialogue mechanism by opening up government-level dialogue on space policy for the advancement of global cooperation. The meeting representatives of the International Space Exploration Forum (ISEF) in 2014 held discussions about the following three topics: 1) National Policy and Public Support for Space Exploration; 2) Space Exploration and Utilization: Strategy and Shared Goals; 3) International Cooperation in Exploration and Peaceful Use of Outer Space.

Xu Dazhe, on behalf of China, took part in the three keynote symposiums of ISEF and made keynote speeches. Xu Dazhe talked about China’s latest accomplishments in manned space and lunar exploration projects, emphasized China’s standpoint in developing space industry peacefully, scientifically, innovatively and openly, and expressed China’s principles in participation in the implementation of global exploration plan and fostering international space cooperation.

Figure 2: Heads of Space Agencies Ceremony during the Gala Dinner

The first Heads of Space Agencies Summit was held in 2010. To expand the summit' s influence and promote the communication among governments and space agencies, the Heads of Space Agencies Summit in 2014 was held in cooperation and conjunction with the ministerial International Space Exploration Forum. In the summit, four roundtable discussions were included: 1) The Importance of International Cooperation; 2) Space Stations; 3)Space Exploration: Low Earth Orbit & Beyond; 4) The Benefits of Space Exploration. Xu Dazhe, on behalf of China, took part in the third roundtable discussion, during which he introduced China’s current space exploration situation, future development plan and China’s views about international collaboration.

Figure 3: Xu Dazhe and Wang Zhaoyao held a bilateral talk with Jean-Jacques Dordain

On the sidelines of the conference, Xu Dazhe and Wang Zhaoyao held a bilateral talk with Jean-Jacques Dordain, Director General of ESA, exchanging opinions about the progress and follow-on work of China Space Cooperation Agreement. (By Yu Yanjuan)