Vietnam National Space Center – Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology participated in the 31st Forum of Space Agencies in the Asia-Pacific region.
Delegates attended the APRSAF-31 Conference in Cebu, Philippines
At the plenary session, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Anh Tuan participated in the roundtable conference of leaders of space agencies in the Asia-Pacific region and provided updates on new policies of the Vietnamese Government, including Resolution 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo on breakthroughs in the development of science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation; and Decision 1131/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister: promulgating the List of Strategic Technologies and Strategic Technology Products. Accordingly, aerospace technology is identified as a strategic national technology, and he presented on the development of the space sector in Vietnam over the past period and its long-term vision. In addition, Dr. Lam Dao Nguyen presented a report on Vietnam's space activities.
A delegation of VNSC officials participated in the APRSAF-31 Conference in Cebu, Philippines
The APRSAF-31 conference, themed “Empowering the Region Through the Use of Space Ecosystems,” took place against the backdrop of the Philippines and Vietnam being among the countries in the region heavily affected by recent typhoons. It reaffirmed the goal of continuously developing capabilities and promoting economic growth through research, development, and innovation to make practical contributions to addressing the challenges of disaster response and climate change facing the Asia-Pacific region. A highlight of this year's conference was the presence of the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. In a solemn atmosphere, the President delivered a speech expressing his aspirations and vision, affirming that “Space must serve humanity,” while also calling on delegates to share expertise, engage in meaningful dialogues, and implement responsible space strategies that benefit the Asia-Pacific region.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. speaks at APRSAF-31
(Image source: https://pco.gov.ph/news_releases/space-science-must-serve-the-people-pbbm/)
During the conference, VNSC also held bilateral meetings with Mr. Yamakawa Hiroshi - President of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and Mr. Hiroo Tanaka - Vice President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to discuss the launch schedule of the LOTUSat-1 satellite, and projects to enhance technical capacity. In addition, VNSC also held discussions with Mr. Enrico Palermo - Director General of the Australian Space Agency (ASA), representatives from the European Space Agency (ESA), and agencies and businesses operating in the field of space technology and applications from Singapore, the United States, the United Kingdom, etc., to inform partners about Vietnam's new policies related to space activities and discuss potential cooperation opportunities. On this occasion, VNSC invited these organizations to participate in the Vietnam Space Week, scheduled to be held in September 2026.
Bilateral meeting between VNSC and JAXA
Bilateral meeting between VNSC and JICA
Bilateral meeting between VNSC and ASA
The APRSAF-31 conference concluded on the afternoon of November 21, 2024, bringing to an end a productive and successful week of work. APRSAF-32 will be held from October 27-30, 2026 in Thailand, and Japan will be the host country for APRSAF-33 in 2027.
Translated by Quoc Khanh
Link to Vietnamese version
