Chinese astronaut Nie Haisheng delivers a lecture during the 9th Space Day of China in Wuhan on April 24. (PHOTO: VCG)

By LIANG Yilian

China celebrated the ninth Space Day on April 24, with a spectrum of events. The theme this year was "Look Afar to Cosmos and Join Together for Space".

The events, attended by about 1,200 guests from over 40 nations, included the China Space Conference, the International Deep Space Exploration Conference, and the China Space Culture and Art Forum.

The first space cooperation forum between China and Latin American and Caribbean countries was also part of the programs.

The forum, co-hosted by the China National Space Administration (CNSA), China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Hubei provincial government from April 24 to 26, included sub-forums on the space infrastructure's contribution to sustainable social and economic development, deep space exploration and space science, innovative development of the space industry chain, and global governance and capacity building in outer space.

It was attended by nearly 90 delegates from 24 countries and eight international organizations. They included government officials as well as industry, research institution and private sector representatives.

China began to observe Space Day from 2016 to commemorate the launch of the first indigenous satellite, Dongfanghong-1, on April 24, 1970. It is a testament to the nation's space achievements and aspirations.

As Space Day continues to evolve, it is increasingly serving as a platform for international engagement, showcasing China's commitment to openness and cooperation in the exploration of space.

In early April, China and Thailand signed two memorandums of understanding for exploration and peaceful use of outer space and cooperation in the international lunar research station.