World major space nations met in Beijing on Monday to report on the progress made in space debris at the 32nd Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) meeting. Xu Dazhe, Administrator of the China National Space Administration (CNSA), addressed the opening.
　
This is the first time that CNSA host the IADC meeting. It is of great importance to establish the image of a responsible space power for China to strengthen international exchanges and cooperation in space domain.
　
At the meeting, the members of the IADC introduced research progress over the past year in the field of space debris. The 32nd IADC steering group meeting reviewed minutes and the relevant documents of the IADC. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) from the U.S. was confirmed to be the 33rd IADC presidency organization.
　
"As a responsible space power, China attaches great importance to the space debris issue," said Xu.
　
Tian Yulong, Secretary General of the CNSA, said China has preliminarily established a space debris monitoring and early warning system, and adopted various protection measures such as frequently de-orbiting out-of-use satellites.
　
The IADC, established in 1993, is the only inter-agency mechanism for coordinating activities of different space administrations and facilitate technology cooperation and exchanges in the field of space debris.
　
12 space organizations, including CNSA, Italy Space Agency,Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES from France), Canadian Space Agency, German Aerospace Center, European Space Agency,Indian Space Research Organization, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, NASA, Russian Federal Space Agency,State Space Agency of Ukraine, UK Space Agency as well as IADC observer Korea Aerospace Research Institute attended the meeting was invited for the opening of 32nd IADC. China Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, CLTC, CASC and CASIC attended the meeting as well.