Development Report on BeiDou Satellite Navigation System-International Communication and Cooperation

BeiDou Satellite Navigation System implements China’s foreign policies, plans as a whole for the market and resources, and carries out positive and practical international communication and cooperation, surrounding China’s basic tasks and strategic objectives on satellite navigation construction. According to the overall development plan of China’s satellite navigation system, the international communication and cooperation should be carried out step by step with priorities. The international communication and cooperation of satellite navigation should be carried through on the basis of equality and common interest, complementary advantages, mutual learning, peaceful utilization, shared development and recognized international law principles.

The international communication and cooperation of China’s satellite navigation field has started since 1990s. During the past 20 years, we’ve carried out many forms of international activities, and had a wide range of achievements. BeiDou Satellite Navigation System insists of development thought of open-minded cooperation and resources sharing. With a development belief of “China’s BeiDou, the World’s BeiDou,” we’ve implemented close communication and consultation with countries that have owned satellite navigation systems, in order to promote the compatibleness and interoperation among global satellite navigation systems. We also conduct wide communication and cooperation with countries that don’t have satellite navigation system and share the progress of satellite navigation development.

In 1994, within the frame of ITU, the frequency coherence work of BeiDou Satellite Navigation System was launched. According to the plan and progress of the system construction, we declare satellite network materials for BeiDou Satellite Navigation System, and carry out international frequency coherence work step by step with a plan and priorities. We proactively carry out bilateral frequency coherence with Europe, America and Russia, and attend the World Radio Communication Conference and ITU research groups and work group meeting. In 2012, China sent a delegation to attend the World Radio Communication Conference, promote proactively the global spread of Frequency S radio satellite determination, ask for usable frequency for satellite navigation system, and spend common efforts with other countries delegations to promote Frequency S (2483.5-2500 MHz) to be new satellite navigation frequency.

As an important member of ICG, China sent delegations to every ICG and ICG supplier forum, and in 2007 we became one of the four core suppliers of this organization. At the sixth ICG conference, we called on international GNSS performance monitoring and assessment, BeiDou/GNSS demonstration application and user experience activities. China promoted the founding of international GNSS monitoring and assessment sub-work group and application sub-work group, and working as the associated chairman. In November 2012, China hosted the seventh ICG conference. Over 200 representatives from 16 countries and 18 international organizations attend the conference, on which they pushed forward more than 20 topics for discussion, and publicized a joint declaration of global satellite navigation system for the very first time.

China has carried out wide communication and cooperation with other satellite navigation systems in the world on key issues such as compatibleness and interoperation. They have started cooperation on system performance monitoring and assessment, service performance regulation and other aspects, in order to provide better service for the world.

China has established cooperation scheme with some Asian-Pacific countries in the satellite navigation field. In precision agriculture, disaster prevention and relief, traffic and tourism, education and training, system monitoring and assessment, etc, cooperation has been widely carried out. In Pakistan, South Korea and some other countries, “BeiDou Asia-Pacific Tour” activities were held successfully. “BeiDou ASEAN Tour” is also included into the series of events to celebrate the ten-year anniversary of China-ASEAN partnership. In May 2013, China and Pakistan signed an agreement on BeiDou Satellite Navigation System application cooperation, witnessed by the two state leaders.

China encourages and supports domestic research institutes, enterprises, colleges and universities to carry out communication, coordination and cooperation with related countries and international organizations on compatibleness, interoperation, satellite navigation standards, coordinate frame, time benchmark, application development and scientific research. China proactively promote the implement of international GNSS open service monitoring and assessment service, BeiDou/GNSS international application demonstration and user experience, accelerate promoting BeiDou Satellite Navigation System to enter international civil aviation organization, international maritime affairs organization and third-generation mobile communication standardization partnership project, in order to push forward the development of satellite navigation technologies and to advance system service performance.

China proactively undertakes, organizes and participates in satellite navigation international academic exchanges. Since 2010, China has held the annual satellite navigation academic meetings, which is open to international peers. Suppliers of each satellite navigation systems, representatives and experts from related international organizations are invited to participate, so that the international community can better know BeiDou and utilize it.

The Chinese government attaches great importance on talent training in satellite navigation field, pushes forward and carries out the international GNSS education and training work, and has established BeiDou international communication and training center. With the support of the UN Office for Space Affairs, an UN-affiliated regional center of space scientific and technological education has been established.