China is soaring to new heights in navigation technology as the 3rd International Summit on the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) kicks off in Zhuzhou, Hunan Province. This two-day event aims to supercharge the BDS industry by expanding its applications and fostering international collaborations.
With over 1,800 researchers, entrepreneurs, and officials from China and around the globe in attendance, the summit is buzzing with innovation. Exhibitors are showcasing cutting-edge BDS applications in sectors like smart logistics and intelligent transportation, highlighting the system's versatility.
\"BDS applications are rapidly expanding across key sectors of China's national economy, with coverage rates surpassing 90% in areas such as transportation, energy, natural resources, and emergency response,\" said Xiang Libin, deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission and an academician with the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
The opening ceremony also saw the release of a bluebook on the development of the BeiDou industry, emphasizing that BDS services and products have been exported to more than 130 countries. This expansion provides users with diverse choices and enhances their application experience, driving industrial growth globally.
Initiated in 1994, the Chinese-made BeiDou system has a rich history. The construction of BDS-1 and BDS-2 was completed in 2000 and 2012, respectively. With the completion and service launch of BDS-3 on July 31, 2020, China joined the elite group of nations with 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 (about $75.2 billion) in 2023, marking a 7.09% increase from the previous year.
