AIRCAS Hosts South African DSTI Delegation to Deepen Cooperation in Space Technology and Applications

On 5 December 2025, a delegation from the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) of South Africa, led by Deputy Minister Nomalungelo Gina, visited the Aerospace Information Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (AIRCAS) in Beijing. The delegation was received by Professor LIU Jianbo from AIRCAS, with representatives from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the Embassy of China in South Africa, and the Embassy of South Africa in China in attendance. The visit followed the successful AIRCAS–SANSA thematic session held last week at the Science Forum South Africa 2025, further strengthening the momentum of bilateral scientific cooperation.

During the meeting, Mr. WANG Zhenyu, Deputy Director General of the CAS Bureau of International Cooperation highlighted the longstanding partnership between China and South Africa in science, technology, and innovation, and reaffirmed CAS's strong support for the development of the China–South Africa  cooperation on space technology and its applications.

Deputy Minister Gina expressed deep appreciation for China's continued support to South Africa's scientific development, particularly in youth training, remote sensing applications, and space technology innovation. She emphasized the need to expand education and research exchange opportunities for young scientists and noted the strategic importance of collaboration in agriculture, digital innovation, and GNSS applications for South Africa’s national development priorities.

AIRCAS provided an overview of its ongoing cooperation with African partners, including work in satellite data reception, agricultural monitoring, ecological assessment, and capacity building. The delegation received updates on the BeiDou/GNSS High-Precision Positioning flagship project, which aims to enhance South Africa’s national positioning infrastructure and support key sectors such as agriculture, meteorology, transportation, mining, and public services.

Representatives from CAS also introduced the ANSO Scholarship and the CAS President's International Fellowship Initiative (PIFI), both of which offer fully funded opportunities for South African students and researchers to pursue advanced study or scientific exchanges in China. The two sides discussed ways to further expand youth training and research mobility under these programmes.

Following the meeting, the DSTI delegation visited several AIRCAS facilities, including the China Remote Sensing Satellite Ground Station, international cooperation platforms, the SDG Big Data Platform, and the aerostat research and development area. The delegation learned about China's capabilities in satellite data acquisition, global Earth observation, digital solutions for sustainable development, and innovative aerospace technologies.

Both sides expressed strong commitment to deepening cooperation in space science, satellite applications, digital agriculture, and talent development. The visit marked another important step in advancing China–South Africa collaboration under the Belt and Road Initiative and in promoting science, technology, and innovation for sustainable development across Africa.

Group photo. (Image by AIRCAS)