To enhance Sino-European and Sino-Swiss scientific dialogue and cultural exchange in the aerospace field, the China Science and Technology Exchange Center (CSTEC) and Swissnex jointly hosted a workshop on space sustainability and the second Sino-Swiss astronaut dialogue in Shanghai on December 9.

Nearly 100 representatives, including Chinese astronaut Jing Haipeng, Swiss astronaut Claude Nicollier, CSTEC Deputy Director General Yang Xuemei, and Swissnex Director Philippe Roesle attended the event.

CSTEC Director General Gao Xiang delivered a video address. Gao said that the aerospace field is a key area for Sino-Swiss cooperation, yielding outstanding scientific achievements. In November, China, Brazil, South Africa and the African Union jointly launched the Initiative on International Cooperation in Open Science. CSTEC is committed to working with Switzerland to uphold the spirit of "equality, innovation and mutual benefit," carry on the tradition of collaboration in the aerospace field, and promote sustainable sci-tech development.

Roesle said that next year marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Switzerland and expressed a willingness to strengthen collaboration with CSTEC to foster more outcomes in sci-tech cooperation.

Both Jing and Nicollier encouraged deeper Sino-Swiss and Sino-European collaboration in aerospace research and exchange to advance the sustainable utilization of space.

Experts and scholars from China and Switzerland shared the latest progress in fields such as astronomical observation, dark-sky preservation and space art exploration. They also discussed potential areas for future collaboration.

In July, CSTEC and Swissnex officially signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation. The workshop will further advance Sino-Swiss and Sino-European scientific exchange and innovation collaboration.