As the 7th Space Day of China is approaching, International Forum on Aerospace Education & Belt and Road Aerospace Innovation Alliance (BRAIA) 5th Anniversary Conference successfully concluded online on April 22th. Prof. ZHANG Weihong, member of the Chinese Academy of Science, Vice President of Northwestern Polytechnical University, Ms. FENG Chunping, Vice Chairman of Governing Board of Chinese Society of Astronautics (CSA), Mr. LIU Baoping, Deputy Director of Education Department of Shaanxi Provincial Government, Ms. JIANG Hui, Counsellor of China National Space Administration to Russia, Ms. YU Qi, Secretary-General of Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO) attended the meeting and deliver speeches. The conference was presided by Prof. Zhang Fuli, Director of the Office of International Cooperation and Dean of International College, NPU.
Prof. ZHANG Weihong delivered a welcoming speech on behalf of the Permanent Secretariat of BRAIA - NPU. He pointed out that the mission of BRAIA is to promote universities, research institutes, academic organizations and enterprises in the international space field to fully play their advantages. With the joint efforts of all members, BRAIA has continuously improved its development mechanism, major issue resolution mechanism and communication and exchange mechanism. He hoped that BRAIA should continue to promote cooperation in education, science and technology, promote the opening and exchange of high-quality educational resources, and strengthen cooperation and exchanges with well-known international university alliances.
Ms. FENG Chunpingsaid that five years ago, BRAIA was initiated by NPU and CSA. With the effort of the Permanent Secretariat, BRAIA has made outstanding contributions in the field of talent cultivation, culture exchange, scientific research and etc. She pointed out that establishing a multilateral cooperation platform is an important measure to promote international cooperation. BRAIA should strengthen exchanges and cooperation with relevant institutions in the field of international aerospace, attract more global partners, constantly improve self-mechanism and enrich its connotation to make BRAIA an important symbol of multilateral cooperation.
Mr. LIU Baoping highly affirmed the importance of BRAIA in promoting the development of international cooperation in higher education in Shaanxi Province. He pointed out that Education Department of Shaanxi Provincial Government will continuously support NPU and BRAIA, promote the opening and exchange among high-quality educational resources and complement each other's advantages, jointly train comprehensive talents with international horizons, and serve the development and construction of countries and regions along the B&R, contributing Shaanxi wisdom to deepening Aerospace exchanges and cooperation and make space technology better serve the human kind.
Ms. JIANG Hui appraised the achievements of BRAIA since its establishment. She highlighted that space is the most challenging high-tech field in current world, and is also a hot area in extensive international cooperation. BRAIA is undertaking important missions in expanding international multilateral cooperation in international space technology and application. It hopes that BRAIA will continue to follow the spirit of "openness, tolerance, win-win cooperation and sharing development", give full play to the advantages of multilateral cooperation and achieve better results in promoting international space cooperation.
Ms.YU Qi pointed out that since its establishment BRAIA has made great contributions to countries along the B&R and in Asia-Pacific in terms of exchange cooperation and talent cultivation. As the co-sponsor of several activities of APSCO, BRAIA has attracted a large number of high-quality students from APSCO member countries to pursue a higher degree in China and has been widely recognized. APSCO will continue to support BRAIA to promote its global influence and wish that it will continue to make progress in the next five years.
Mr. Chen Jun from NPU gave a working report on BRAIA, comprehensively summarized the achievements of BRAIA in the past five years, and put forward the development plan of the alliance for the next five years. During the meeting, BRAIA established a new North America Regional Development Center – CETYS University, and three new members including Wenchang International Aerospace City Administration Bureau, Shanghai Aerospace Equipment Manufacturer Co. Ltd. and Beijing Comsat Technology Development Co., Ltd. officially joined BRAIA.
Prof. Juan Terrazas from CETYS University made a report on RDC North America working plan. Prof.Adnan Maqsoodmade a report on behalf of BRAIA RDC-South Asia. Prof. Najam Abbas Naqvi from the Institute of Space Technology and Ms. Aisha, from APSCO, made academic reports on the theme of Exploration and Practice of Multilateral Scientific Research and Aerospace Talents Cultivation.
Mr. LIU Hong, Executive Chairman of Chinese Permanent Secretariat of Association of Sino-Russian Technical Universities, Academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering, Vice president of Harbin Institute of Technology, China, Mr. Guillermo Cisneros, Rector of Universidad Politécnica,Spain, Dr. Fernando Leon Garcia, President of CETYS University, Mexico, Prof. WANG Bo, Vice President of Beijing Institute of Technology, China, Mr. Tomukum Chia, Regional Secretary of Global Center for Compliance Hazards and Disaster Management Cameroon, Mr. Jean-Michel Durepaire, Executive Director of ESTACA, Mr. Rehan Abdul Baqi, Rector of National University of Science and Technology, Pakistan, Prof. ZHAO Xiangmo, President of Xi'an Technological University, China,Mr. Vladimir Bogatyrev, Rector of Samara University, Russia, Ms. Yulia Antokhina, Rector of Saint-Petersburg State University of Aerospace Instrumentation, Russia, Mr. XU Yawei, Marketing Director of Land Space Technology Corporation Ltd., sent their recorded videos to celebrate the 5thanniversary of BRAIA. Representatives of teachers and students of member universities sent cloud blessings through various forms.
Representatives of BRAIA members and international organizations including the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs attended the meeting.
Belt and Road Aerospace Innovation Alliance (BRAIA), established on April 23, 2017 in Xi’an, was initiated by Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU) and Chinese Society of Astronautics (CSA). The mission of BRAIA is to enhance international cooperation on aerospace technology and application. Its focus is to promote substantial cooperation among BRAIA members in talent cultivation, scientific research, technology development and applications, etc. After five years of development, BRAIA has continuously improved its development mechanism, elected standing council members, established an academic committee, and established three regional development centers in South Asia, Africa and North America, forming brand activities and projects such as “Space Exploration" summer and winter camps, scholar seminars, science and technology front edge lecture hall and BRAIA Joint Research Seed Fund Project. BRAIAhas travelled to many cities in Italy, Spain, Egypt, Pakistan and China, benefiting all members. In 2021, the relevant work of BRAIA was included in Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Dakar Action Plan (2022-2024) and China’s Space Program: A 2021 Perspective.
Till now, BRAIA has attracted 74 members from 22 countries on 6 continents around the world. It has held 33 large-scale cultural, scientific and technological exchange activities, and more than 4500 teachers and students have benefited directly.
Author： Zhang Tong, Zhai Wen
Reviewer： Zhang Fuli,Chen Jun
