【July 14, 2014, CMSP News】On July 11, 2014, Wang Zhaoyao, Director General of China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), met with Simonetta Di Pippo, the newly-appointed Director of United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) at Beijing Aerospace City. They exchanged views on the future cooperation. 

Figure 1: Wang Zhaoyao met with Director of UNOOSA Simonetta Di Pippo (Photo by Zhang Zhihui)

It is Simonetta Di Pippo’s first visit to CMSA. During the meeting, Wang Zhaoyao greeted Simonetta Di Pippo with a warm welcome and extended congratulations to her on being appointed Director of UNOOSA. Wang gave a brief introduction to China Manned Space Project, its management organization, the planning of China Space Station, and China’s principles and positive postures towards the issue of international cooperation.

Figure 2: Simonetta Di Pippo photoed with CMSA staff (Photo by Zhang Zhihui)

Simonetta Di Pippo noted that, during the past three decades, both sides have carried out a huge amount of work on international cooperation with regard to application of China Space Station through the platform of the UN Human Space Technology Initiative (HSTI) on the basis of repeated communication and mutual assistance. She said that she hoped the cooperation would step into the substantial stage sooner.

Wang added that CMSA and UNOOSA have established long-term partnership and he believed that cooperation of the two sides will promote the development of human space flight  and benefit global cooperation on space exploration. He said that China is willing to share its duty and make positive contributions. 

Figure 3: Simonetta Di Pippo toured around EVA Training Lab (Photo by Zhang Zhihui)

Figure 4: Simonetta Di Pippo toured around Beijing Aerospace Control Center (Photo by Zhang Titi)

Prior to the meeting, Simonetta Di Pippo was invited to tour around China Academy of Space Technology, Astronaut Center of China and Beijing Aerospace Control Center.  The visit has enhanced Simonetta Di Pippo’s understanding of China’s Manned Space Project and its unique features represented by China’s manned space facilities and technologies. (By Yu Yanjuan)