Xi sends letter to satellite meeting

President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the 13th Meeting of the International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems, which began on Monday in Xi’an, Shaanxi province.

Xi said satellite navigation systems are significant infrastructure and generate important economic and social development data to provide humanity with accurate time and space information services to improve people’s lives and work.

Xi noted that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the first United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, and countries should step up international cooperation and coordination in satellite navigation, facilitate the global application of systems, and allow them to play a more significant role in improving human welfare.

China attaches importance to the development of satellite navigation systems and actively seeks international cooperation, Xi stressed in the letter, saying the Beidou Navigation Satellite System has become one of the most significant achievements during China’s 40 years of reform and opening-up.

He said the Beidou system will start serving countries and regions along the Belt and Road Initiative by the end of 2018, and expand the service network to the entire planet by 2020. Technicians will build a comprehensive space and time system that is more ubiquitous, more integrated and smarter by 2035.

Xi said China is willing to share the achievements of the Beidou system with other countries, and promote the development of global satellite navigation systems.

Xi called on delegates at the meeting to deepen communication and pool ideas to allow global satellite navigation systems to provide better global services for humanity.