More than 800 astronauts, scientists, experts, and business bellwethers from eight countries including the US, UK, Russia, France, and Germany are gathered at the Zhuhai International Convention & Exhibition Center in Shizimen from Nov 17 to 20 to explore space technology and humanity's future.

Themed "The Same Home Under the Same Sky," the 2019 International Symposium on the Peaceful Uses of Space Technology (Health) consists of 50 keynote speeches on space economy, space medical technology, remote-sensing technology application, aerospace breeding and space carrying technology, as well as space education.

Liu Jiyuan, vice president of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA), and Yang Liwei, the first Taikonaut sent into space by the Chinese space program and vice chief designer of China Manned Space Program, are also in attendance.

Opening ceremony [Photo by Zhang Zhou / Zhuhai Daily]

The event exhibits medical robots, precision medical treatment, medical diagnosis, artificial intelligence, and other technologies related to space medical technology and human health. Aerospace breeding and space carrying technology are showcased from the aspects of rice breeding, biotechnological experiments on the space stations, and commercial recoverable satellite carrying technology.

A "Blue Plan" for a fundamental public service platform was presented. The plan anticipates space-sky-ground gridded and remotely sensed information. It will establish an intelligent remote-sensing application network system, which integrates communication, navigation, and remote sensing to serve governments, enterprises, and the public.

Zhuhai Vice Mayor Zhang Yisheng noted at the symposium that the opening of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and accelerated construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area will draw more space economy industries and capital to Zhuhai.

The event is hosted by the Chinese Society of Astronautics, China Hi-Tech Industrialization Association, and International Peace Alliance (Space). It is the first time seven top international space agencies including the IAA, International Astronautical Federation (IAF), International Institute of Space Law (IISL), and US Space Foundation have co-organized a symposium. 

Held in Hainan Province in January 2018, the first International Symposium on the Peaceful Uses of Space Technology (Health) saw the establishment of the International Peace Alliance (Space). In addition, a memorandum of cooperation was signed by the attending leaders and experts in aerospace, with the decision to hold the symposium regularly in China and to build demonstration platforms including the "International Space Innovation Center."