Sharing Lunar Soil, Shaping Our Future — Chang'e-6 Lunar Far-Side Soil Samples Find a Home at the United Nations Headquarters in Vienna

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On September 14, the China National Space Administration, the Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Vienna, and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs held a handover ceremony at the United Nations Headquarters in Vienna, where China officially presented to the United Nations the first batch of lunar far-side soil samples collected by Chang'e-6. More than 400 guests attended, including heads of international organizations in Vienna, permanent representatives of various countries, and representatives from all walks of life in Vienna.

Shan Zhongde, Administrator of the China National Space Administration, together with Ghada Waly, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna, Aarti Holla-Maini, Director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, and Li Song, Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations Office at Vienna and Other International Organizations, jointly unveiled the lunar soil samples. The samples will be permanently displayed at the United Nations Headquarters in Vienna.

In his remarks, Shan Zhongde said that exploring the vast universe is a shared dream tirelessly pursued by humanity. President Xi Jinping has pointed out that Chang'e belongs both to China and to all humanity. By donating the lunar far-side soil samples collected by Chang'e-6 to the United Nations, China is taking concrete action to implement the four global initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping, comprehensively applying the new development philosophy of innovation, coordination, green, openness and sharing, practicing true multilateralism, upholding the authority and role of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space as the primary platform for outer space governance, and advancing the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. China is ready to share the fruits of its space development with all countries, share opportunities and create prosperity together, so that space science and technology achievements can better benefit the people of all countries, jointly promote humanity's peaceful exploration of outer space, and better empower the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Ghada Waly said that the Vienna multilateral platform has the unique characteristic of integrating science and diplomacy. China's permanent display of the lunar soil samples at the United Nations Headquarters in Vienna is of great significance, representing humanity's scientific creativity and determination to explore the universe, and reflecting China's support for the United Nations' role in promoting the international community's response to common challenges. Aarti Holla-Maini said that China's donation of lunar soil and sharing of scientific research data perfectly embodies the principle that outer space is the common domain of all humanity, and expressed the hope that the lunar soil will continue to tell the story of humanity's exploration of the Moon in Vienna and advance the process of global outer space governance.

The Permanent Representative of Pakistan said that Pakistan is honored to be one of China's closest partners in space, and that Pakistan's CubeSat completed the country's first lunar exploration mission aboard Chang'e-6. China has not only advanced the frontiers of lunar science but also contributed to the well-being of all humanity. He expressed the hope that the two countries will deepen cooperation in deep space exploration, crewed spaceflight and other missions and achieve more fruitful results. The Permanent Representative of Italy said that lunar exploration is a common endeavor of all humanity, and that an Italian astronaut once quoted from the "Preface to the Poems Collected from the Orchid Pavilion" — "Looking up, I gaze at the vastness of the universe; looking down, I observe the abundance of all things" — to describe the magnificent spectacle of the cosmos. China and Italy have carried out extensive cooperation in lunar exploration, astronaut training and other areas, and in the future all parties need to continue working hand in hand so that the concepts of peace, inclusiveness and cooperation can be carried forward in lunar exploration.

The ceremony was filled with a warm atmosphere as guests eagerly vied to catch a glimpse of the precious gift of lunar soil and jointly witnessed this historic moment. Participants highly praised China's space achievements, saying that China's open sharing of space achievements has contributed China's strength to global outer space governance, and expressed their expectation to join China in advancing the peaceful use of outer space.

During the event, Li Song received a media interview. He said that "though thousands of miles apart, we share the same bright moon," and that this donation event vividly embodies the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind proposed by President Xi Jinping. It is an important measure by which China supports the United Nations' cause of peace and development and implements the four global initiatives, and it is also a thematic event of the Vienna "Group of Friends of Global Governance" and the "Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative," and has been warmly welcomed by a large number of member states. The event demonstrated China's philosophy and actions in working with all parties to firmly uphold the status and role of the United Nations, improve global outer space governance, and better benefit all humanity.