Largest Space Show Opens in Beijing

Largest Space Show Opens in Beijing

"Mankind and Space -- World Space Week Popular Science Exhibition 2000", the largest of its kind in China, was inaugurated at the Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution Thursday in Beijing.

Li Guixian, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, attended the opening ceremony.

The two-week exhibition, sponsored by China National Space Administration (CNSA) and several other ministerial departments, is China's first part of a series of programs to celebrate the first "World Space Week" of the United Nations.

The exhibits, which include models, photos and audio-video equipment as well as a copy of China's first experimental manned space shuttle, will inform visitors on major historic events and breakthroughs in the development of space technology in China and the world as a whole.

In addition to the show, China's programs also include a celebration meeting at Beijing University and a ceremony at the National Library in Beijing for the launching of two books on the development of space technology.

According to official sources, in November 1999, the United Nations accepted a proposal at the Third UN Outer Space Meeting to celebrate "World Space Week" from October 4-10 every year.

This year, the first year to mark the festival, the United Nations will hold celebrations in New York and Vienna, while the governments of at least 26 countries have decided to launch their own programs to mark the event.