Luxembourg and China cooperate in space exploration

From January 15th to 16th Luxembourg Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the Economy, Etienne
Schneider, was on an official visit in Beijing.
On January 16, the Ministry of the Economy and the China National Space Administration (CNSA)
signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that provides a framework for the development
and implementation of scientific, technical, economic and political cooperation between
Luxembourg and China in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes. The
areas of potential cooperation include, but are not limited to economic, legal, regulatory and
technological aspects of the utilization of space resources.
Furthermore, the Ministry of the Economy and the National Space Science Center (NSSC) of the
Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) signed a cooperation agreement to establish a Research
Laboratory of Deep Space Exploration in Luxembourg. The National Space Science Center is
China’s gateway to space science. It is the key institute responsible for planning, developing,
launching and operating China’s space science satellite missions.
The Research Laboratory of Deep Space Exploration will be established as an independent legal
entity in Luxembourg where it will carry out scientific research and technology development and
thus contribute to achieving the objectives set forth within the SpaceResources.lu initiative.
Other main research fields of the Research Laboratory include universal interplanetary
communications network related technology or advanced deep space communications
technology. In a first stage, the Research Laboratory will employ at least 5 employees in
Luxembourg.
During his two day visit, the Luxembourg Deputy Prime Minister met the Chinese Minister of
Commerce, Zhong Shan, to discuss collaboration in logistics, cross-border e-commerce and space.
He also met the Chinese Minister of Transport, Li Xiaopeng, for the signature of an agreement in
the maritime sector.