China's Manned Space Agency (CMSA) and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) have invited applications from United Nations member states to conduct experiments on board China's Space Station (CSS). The ceremony for the Announcement of Opportunity for the United Nations/China Cooperation on the Utilization of the CSS was held on Monday in Vienna, Austria.

“With the global challenges we all face here on Earth, it is important to foster collaboration and cooperation in the field of space activities,” said Shi Zhongjun, the ambassador and permanent representative of China to the United Nations and other international organizations in Vienna. 

“With this program, China is providing opportunities for all countries to share its space resources, and promote international cooperation, space applications, capacity building and awareness-raising in human spaceflight and space exploration,” Ambassador Shi added. 

He also gave three specific aspects of its significance: “First, the cooperation is highly open. It is for all countries, regardless of their level of development in outer space. Second, the cooperation is highly inclusive. Governments, international organizations, private entities and research institutions and other relevant organizations, can all apply for its various cooperation models. Third, the cooperation is highly professional and transparent.”

Both China and the UNOOSA explicitly stated their support for developing countries in this project. “This time, we encourage developing countries to participate in the cooperation on the utilization of China’s space station, including doing so in partnership with developed countries,” Ambassador Shi said. 

Simonetta Di Pippo, the director of the United Nations Office For Outer Space Affairs agreed with Shi’s comments: “If we have a team from a developing country which needs to be supported, we will – internally and externally with our network of experts together with China – find ways and means to support these new teams to become really good experts in order to be able to develop their experiment and be able to master space technology.” 

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