The 3rd International Summit on the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) applications kicked off Thursday in Zhuzhou, Hunan Province, as authorities seek to advance the industry through expanded applications and enhanced international cooperation.
Over two days, more than 1,800 Chinese and international researchers, entrepreneurs, and officials attended the summit. Exhibitors showcased BDS applications across various sectors, including smart logistics and intelligent transportation.
\"BDS applications are rapidly expanding across key sectors of China's national economy, with coverage rates surpassing 90 percent in areas such as transportation, energy, natural resources, and emergency response,\" stated Xiang Libin, deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission and an academician with the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
A bluebook on the development of the BeiDou industry was also unveiled during the opening ceremony.
\"BDS services and related products have been exported to more than 130 countries, providing users with diversified choices and a better application experience, thereby promoting industrial development,\" the document highlighted.
Initiated in 1994, the Chinese-made BDS saw the completion of BDS-1 and BDS-2 in 2000 and 2012, respectively. With the completion and service launch of BDS-3 on July 31, 2020, China became the third country to establish an independent global navigation satellite system.
According to the White Paper on the Development of China's Satellite Navigation and Location Services Industry (2024), the total output value of China's satellite navigation and location services industry reached 536.2 billion yuan (approximately $75.2 billion) in 2023, marking a 7.09 percent increase from the previous year.
Reference(s):
China hosts summit to boost BeiDou navigation system applications
cgtn.com
