(MENAFN) China officially unveiled the International Deep Space Exploration Association (IDSEA) on Monday in Hefei, the capital city of Anhui province, according to a state-operated media outlet.

The organization is an international scholarly body dedicated to advancing the exploration of deep space.

The formation of the IDSEA was a collaborative effort involving the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory based in Hefei, the Lunar Exploration and Space Program Center under the China National Space Administration, the Chinese Society of Astronautics, the Chinese Society of Space Research, and the French-led project "Planetary Exploration, Horizon 2061."

The initiative received backing from a total of 20 leading Chinese academics and 31 global researchers.

Wu Weiren, who serves as the chief architect of China’s lunar exploration initiative and is a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, was chosen as the association’s inaugural chairman.

Wu highlighted the significance of the new body in strengthening international cooperation within China’s space initiatives, describing it as a vital move toward fostering worldwide innovation in the field of deep space studies.

He explained that the IDSEA will concentrate on missions involving the Moon and other planets, asteroid threat mitigation, global scientific trends, academic exchanges, cultivating skilled professionals, creating standards, and advocating for the peaceful and enduring use of outer space.

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