China and Pakistan boost space collaboration

The China-Pakistan partnership aims to leverage space technology and big data to support Sustainable Development Goals.

China and Pakistan signed an agreement to enhance sustainable development through joint research and satellite data analysis.

A new partnership has been formed between China’s International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals (CBAS) and Pakistan’s Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO). The two countries aim to use space technology and big data to boost natural resource management and achieve regional Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The collaboration will focus on joint research, making use of data from the Sustainable Development Science Satellite 1 (SDGSAT-1). Launched in 2021, the satellite plays a vital role in monitoring progress toward sustainable development by providing valuable data insights.

Professor Guo Huadong, Director-General of CBAS, highlighted the importance of technological innovation and advanced data analysis in tackling challenges related to the UN’s 2030 Agenda. The shared efforts in data collection and analysis are expected to improve regional decision-making on sustainable development.

At the event, representatives from CBAS also presented the ‘Atlas of SDGSAT-1 Satellite Nighttime Light Image’ to scholars from Pakistan, Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, Thailand, and Seychelles. It demonstrates the potential of satellite data to provide new perspectives on sustainability challenges.