The 6th China Space Forum Held in Beijing

YU Weishu

Aerospace China

The 6th China Space Forum was held in Beijing from December 5th to 6th. This forum focused on interpreting international cooperation and policies, demonstrations of commercial space technology innovation, discussing the current status and future development trends in satellite communication, satellite remote sensing and related fields, and exploring new opportunities and challenges for space development, with a view to setting up a global and international platform for commercial space exchange, cooperation and sharing amongst satellite developers, satellite operators, core service providers, top-level think tanks, investment and financing institutions, scientific research institutions and emerging enterprises.

More than 300 experts, scholars and entrepreneurs from China National Space Administration (CNSA), Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO), affiliated units of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC)and domestic and foreign aerospace industry came together to put forward concrete proposals for joint construction and winwin opportunities for commercial aerospace between institutions and enterprises. Proposals were discussed for systematic solutions for domestic and foreign users, advance international cooperation and promotion in thefields of satellite manufacturing, launching services, satellite applications, ground and terminal manufacturing. Thus enabling the creation of a commercial aerospace pioneer, and build the bridge of international cooperation in order to enhance China's aerospace in fluence,discursive power, and help build China into a space power.

This forum had four keynote speeches and eight separate sessions to discuss the general idea of the construction and application of the Belt and Road Initiative space information corridor, present the current status and future trends in satellite remote sensing, satellite communication and relatedfields,review more than 20 commercial space constellation programs and the industrial development trends of China's micro/nano satellites, paying attention to the risk control of commercial space development, and jointly discussing and plotting the future of commercial space. The forum highlighted and exchanged project information including programs such as the High-resolution Earth Observation System, Hongyan Constellation, Hongyun Constellation, Ground Information Port and Commercial Measurement and Control.

As the organizer of the forum, China Aerospace Science &Technology Consulting Co., Ltd. (CASTCC) reached a cooperation intention agreement with Euroconsult to jointly build an international exchange platform for the high-end aerospace industry and boost the vigorous development of commercial aerospace.

Pacomme Revillon,CEO of Euroconsult

Journalists formAerospace Chinainterviewed experts form Euroconsult and CASTCC.

· How is the development stage of commercial satellites in domestic China or in the international market? Do you have any suggestions for the Chinese commercial market in space industry?

Pacomme: It's true that in many parts of the world, government will continue to drive a large part of the space activities. Butfirstly, in some countries such as the United States,government is looking for more at providing contracts and working with the private sector or to conduct the actual operations, space activity in services in the future. There are two main forms of cooperation, one is the one-time cooperation service contract, and the other is the typical Public-Private Partnership (PPP). Government is very careful in choosing its partners that need to be mature in science and technology.Generally speaking, these private companies start with research and development and have more long-term cooperation with development. In Europe, for example, government has dominated Earth observation projects for nearly 20 years, but now the launch of the third generation of Earth observation satellites is mainly dominated by private enterprises. It's good for private enterprises to focus on the domestic market. For example, China has strong domestic demand. We think that the domestic market in China is a good start. Finding 1 - 2 large clients in China at the beginning is very helpful for private enterprises to develop international market in the future. As far as we know, China's commercial space development has just begun and has very good prospects. China's private space enterprises can accelerate their growth by actively seeking international partners and exploring international markets. In Europe, America, Russia and Japan, 80% - 90% of space activities are still supported by government. As the largest client, government has sufficient funds. Especially in Europe, private enterprises have more and more opportunities to open up the market. One advantage of commercial space is that it develops faster than traditional space, so does it in China.

· What's your impression about Chinese space industry?

Pacomme: Thefirst is fast. Scientific and technological innovation, launches and the development of the entire satellite industry ecosystem are all very rapid. The second is international cooperation. China has cooperation with the space agencies of many other countries and is becoming more and more internationalized. The third is the concern and enthusiasm of Chinese teenagers on the aerospace industry.

Blaine V Curcio (one of the main authors of China's space industry report): I think for me the most impressive things about Chinese space industry, first is the culture. So many people love aerospace in China, which is so much different form US. The second is risk tolerance. The payback period of investment in satellite or space industry is very long, and the initial investment is relatively large. I am also impressed by the huge risks that VCs are willing to bear. There is certain degree of acceptance of risk by these private companies. In the future,we will see more major VCs come into the industry as the level of risk increases. The third is the private rocket companies.Although there are still restrictions in laws and regulations, I believe the development will get better and better, because the government also supports private enterprises now.

· Can you tell us about the future development plan of CG-

HE Xing,Vice Chairman of CASTCC

WIC in thefield of commercial space?

HE Xing: In 1985, China announced that it would provide launch services for foreign customers. CGWIC started to provide services for international clients from that time. With the development of internationalization, CGWIC participated in the formulation or advocated the formulation of some industry operation standards, service standards and product standards.So, we are still one of the leading companies in thisfield.

The world is paying more and more attention to the space industry. In addition, the Chinese government encourages private enterprises to participate in the space industry, so commercial space has developed vigorously in China in the past three years or so. CGWIC is happy to see this. Why? Because if we make the market bigger and stronger, our business will become more prosperous. Therefore, we have always held an open attitude to lead and support it. We have actually supported many private entrepreneurs, especially in the satellitefield, including satellite manufacturing design and satellite applications, etc. We also provide the best, internationalized and standardized services in thefield of satellite launching. Domestic satellite manufacturing enterprises(private enterprises) can concentrate on satellite payloads, and we can provide full-chain services for them. Of course, for private enterprises wishing to participate in rocket design and development,CGWIC can provide standardized services, such as financing,insurance and standardized terms of contracts.

CGWIC not only undertakes launching services for medium and large satellites abroad, but also provides a package of satellite delivery services for other countries. The business will continue to develop.

The next development priority of CGWIC is to use its own resources, especially those overseas, to build a global system including communication, navigation and remote sensing.

Therefore, I think the market of CGWIC is different from that of private enterprises. We are not going to compete, but to develop the market together and make it stronger.

· Can you tell us what was the original intention of holdingthis China Space Forum, and whether this original intention has been achieved and what effect has been achieved?

WANG Li, Director of China National Satellite Navigation System Management Office

WANG Li: There are two backgrounds for the earliest proposal to set up an industry internationalization development forum. First of all, CASTCC positions itself in thefield of space internationalization. We are a space enterprise, and CGWIC is the pioneer and bridge of international cooperation in space. Therefore, a platform is set up with the theme of space internationalization so that people can communicate and exchange ideas about international development of space industry at this platform. Second, CASTCC celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2013, and we set up such a forum as a memorial.The fact that the forum has been doing better and better also proves that our forum has complied with the development of the country's space industry. China is developing into a space power and is becoming more and more internationalized.

GAO Jun,President of CASTCC

GAO Jun: China put forward the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013. We were thefirst to put forward the Space-based Silk Road at that time. Against the background of the China Space Forum, after sorting out the speech materials form the forum,we published a series of books about Space-based Silk Road.This is also an achievement of this platform.

· Please talk about your cooperation intentions and ideas with Euroconsult.

GAO Jun: We hope the forum can go out in the Belt and Road Initiative regions and internationally, but it's not easy on our own, so we choose a good partner that has international in fluence and make use of its in fluence to go out and attract more foreign experts. That is the purpose. In this way, the forum will be truly internationalized and have greater in fluence.It will no longer a Chinese forum, but a global forum. I believe that in the future, we will cooperate with more international consulting companies with large international in fluence. In this way, our forum will be more extensive and open, and the internationalization will be higher and higher.