China is committed to carrying out extensive and in-depth cooperation with international partners on space science, said Wang Chi, director of the National Space Science Center under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, at a press conference in Beijing on Tuesday.
International cooperation not only reduces individual countries' costs and risks, but also multiplies scientific outcomes, fostering understanding and friendship among the people in the world, said Wang. He further expounded on China's plan to enhance cooperation with international partners.
"For mission collaboration, we have deep cooperation in joint missions such as the upcoming Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) project between China and the European Space Agency (ESA), which involves full-spectrum cooperation throughout the mission's lifecycle. We also cooperate with [other countries to help] conduct joint observations [for their space missions,]" Wang said.
"For research collaboration, we aim to create international joint scientific teams with complementary strengths, further open global access to scientific data, and promote joint research initiatives to yield significant scientific breakthroughs," he said.
China also has also participated in major global scientific projects and engineering initiatives such as the Living With A Star (LWS) program, while actively leading new international scientific projects and frameworks, he said. "We will enhance various forms of international exchanges in space science, ensuring that the outcomes of space technology benefit humanity. Through practical and efficient international cooperation on space science, we aim to deepen mutual understanding and build consensus. China will continue working with more global partners to contribute Chinese wisdom and strength toward unraveling the mysteries of the universe," said Wang.
China to carry out extensive int'l cooperation on space science missions
China to carry out extensive int'l cooperation on space science missions
European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Thursday that Israel's latest strikes on Lebanon, which killed hundreds overnight, did not fall within self-defense.
"Israel's right to defend itself does not justify inflicting such massive destruction," Kallas said in a post on social media platform X.
She warned that the strikes risk further destabilizing the region, and that Israel's actions were putting the U.S.-Iran ceasefire under severe strain.
The United States and Iran announced a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday evening, less than two hours before a deadline set by Washington in the morning. Israel said it accepts the truce but will continue fighting in Lebanon against Hezbollah.
Kallas noted that the ceasefire should be extended to Lebanon.
So far, the Israeli strikes on Wednesday across Lebanon had killed at least 303 people and injured 1,150 others, with densely populated neighborhoods in the capital of Beirut among the hardest hit, the Lebanese Health Ministry said on Thursday.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced Wednesday that Thursday would be observed as a national day of mourning for the victims and injured in Israeli attacks that targeted hundreds of civilians.
All public administrations, institutions and municipalities would close, national flags would be lowered to half-staff, and radio and television broadcasts would be adjusted to reflect the national mourning, according to the prime minister.
He said that he had remained in contact with Arab leaders and international officials to step up Lebanon's political and diplomatic efforts aimed at halting the Israeli attacks.
Meanwhile, regional countries and international organizations have strongly condemned the deadly Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities.
During a phone call with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Thursday, Jordan's King Abdullah II underscored the need to halt Israeli aggression against Lebanon and the targeting of civilians.
The king also stressed the importance of stepping up international efforts to put an end to the aggression against Lebanon.
Pakistan, acting as a mediator in a U.S.-Iran ceasefire, also condemned the strikes, calling them a violation of international law and humanitarian principles.
Speaking by phone with the Lebanese president, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned Israel's ongoing aggression against Lebanon and expressed condolences over the loss of thousands of precious lives in the hostilities.
Russia also strongly condemns Israel's latest airstrikes on Lebanon, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Thursday.
Zakharova noted that such aggressive actions threaten to derail the emerging negotiation process and increase the risk of a resumption of large-scale armed confrontation in the Middle East.
Zakharova said that Russia advocates for an immediate ceasefire in the Israeli-Lebanese conflict zone and a return to the focus of political and diplomatic efforts, including ensuring the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
Austria's foreign ministry on Thursday called on Israel to immediately stop its military operations against civilian targets and infrastructure in Lebanon.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also said on Thursday that the Middle East ceasefire should include Lebanon at a news conference alongside his Syrian counterpart Asaad Hassan al-Shibani in Ankara.
Israeli strikes on Lebanon do not fall within self-defense: EU foreign policy chief
