Xi Focus-Closeup: A staunch supporter of China's space undertakings

BEIJING -- President Xi Jinping has been a staunch supporter of China's space undertakings. He has paid visits to several space launch sites and he frequently mentioned the country's space achievements in his New Year addresses.

Xi has a deep impression and high opinion of Dongfanghong-1, China's first man-made satellite launched in 1970. In a letter replying to veteran scientists in April 2020, Xi recalled: "I was thrilled when the news about the launch reached me in Liangjiahe." He was referring to a small village in northwestern China, where he spent part of his formative years.

At that time, China's industrial foundation was weak, and scientific research conditions were relatively poor. The international environment was also unfavorable, necessitating Chinese scientists to build a satellite from scratch.

Their painstaking efforts paid off on April 24, 1970, when Dongfanghong-1 was successfully launched. With a mass of 173 kg, the Chinese satellite is heavier than the combined weight of the first satellites of four other countries that launched satellites before China.

"No matter how the conditions change, the spirit of self-reliance and hard work should not be lost," Xi wrote in the above-mentioned letter.

Every year on April 24, China celebrates its space day. Over the course of the last five decades, China has transitioned from a latecomer to a prominent player in space exploration. Not only has China made significant scientific advancements, but its satellites have also served as a means of connection and friendship between China and the rest of the world.

Xi has exchanged congratulatory messages with foreign heads of state regarding Sino-foreign cooperative satellite projects. Two noteworthy examples include the successful liftoffs of the China-France Oceanography Satellite and the China-Italy Electromagnetic Monitoring Experiment Satellite.

The two satellites have constantly offered data support in disaster prevention and the fight against climate change since their launches in 2018. They exemplify how scientists from different countries can use space technologies to deal with common problems on Earth together.

On July 31, 2020, Xi personally announced the commissioning of China's homegrown BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS), the fourth global navigation system after GPS of the United States, Galileo of the European Union and GLONASS of Russia.

BeiDou is named after the Chinese term for the Big Dipper constellation. With over 40 satellites currently operating in orbit, the BDS system has been adopted by millions of taxis, buses, and shared bicycles around China. BeiDou-enabled functions are used in tens of thousands of agricultural machines, improving their operational efficiency.

Scientists have also developed BDS applications to track wild animals, control forest fires, and help maritime search and rescue. Thanks to the use of a BeiDou assistance device, over 10,000 fishermen have received aid or been rescued.

Xi has stressed that China is willing to share the achievements of the BDS with all sides, promote the progress of the global satellite navigation industry, and make the BDS better serve the world and benefit humankind.

Agricultural authorities in Myanmar have used BeiDou applications for the collection of land data. China-Europe freight train services have become more convenient with the support of BeiDou's positioning and navigation terminals for the containers.

Chinese space technologies are increasingly utilized in various applications, echoing Xi's vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity.