By Eugene Avenant
As Chinese astronauts recently completed China first in-orbit crew rotation, China space
station has entered an era of long-term manned residence..
China space industry is developing at an admirable speed. 2022 marks the 30th anniversary of
China manned space program. Over the past three decades, China has independently
developed its manned space program, completed the construction of its space station, and made
leapfrog achievements in space technology.
The country has also launched lunar and planetary exploration missions, making continuous
breakthroughs in space science. It is one of the most dynamic players in the space field.
The rapid development of China space industry comes from the country ever-growing
capability in science and technology as well as innovation. China has constantly expanded the
size of its aerospace personnel and stepped up its efforts to become a world center for talent
and innovation in the aerospace field. Besides, its manufacturing sector also offers strong
support for the development of its space industry.
China actively advances international cooperation and exchanges in space and promotes space
technology to better benefit people around the world.
Space and satellite technology can significantly improve the modern development of African
countries in climate monitoring, seed breeding, disaster prevention and relief, communication
and other fields.
China has not only assisted African countries in the manufacturing and launch of satellites on
many occasions, but also fully supported them to foster the capability to independently develop
the space sector. Offering high-quality training for African researchers in the designing,
manufacturing, launching and controlling of satellites, China has nurtured a batch of space
talents on the African continent.
South Africa has launched in-depth space cooperation with China.
A China-Brazil earth resource satellite has established a ground data receiving and processing
system in South Africa, which provides various services for countries in Southern Africa in the
management of water and soil resources, disaster monitoring and urban planning.
In 2021, the South African National Space Agency and the Chinese side inked a Memorandum of
Understanding between the Parties for Satellite Navigation Cooperation for Peaceful Purposes,
which marked another important step taken by the two sides in advancing South Africa-China
cooperation in the application of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System.
Batches of Chinese taikonauts have entered space, becoming heroes for many African teenagers.
The Talk with Taikonauts event held in September 2022, during which three Chinese taikonauts
talked from space with the youth from eight African countries via video link, has planted a seed
of space dreams in the heart of many African adolescents.
I sincerely congratulate China on its outstanding achievements in space and am looking forward
to higher-level space cooperation between South Africa and China.
The South African space industry hopes to launch closer personnel exchanges and more intensive
scientific cooperation with China, and to further expand the two sides' cooperation on the
application of space technology, so as to better benefit the two peoples.
I believe South Africa and China will surely enjoy broader cooperation in space.
(Eugene Avenant is the chief engineer for the South African National Space Agency Space
Operations division)
