Nearly 100 space law experts from major space nations, including the United States, Russia, China, France, Germany, Japan and India, gathered in Beijing Monday to discuss ways to enact or improve laws on human space activities.

At the two-day International Space Law Conference, Jeffery Maclure, a noted space law expert with the State Department of the United States, presented a report on the country's formulation of laws and policies on space-related activities.

Experts from China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Indonesia, Chinese Hong Kong and Taipei and Australia delivered reports outlining space programs of their respective countries or regions or progress in legislation on space activities.

In his opening speech, Wang Liheng, president of the China Institute of Space Law and a space expert, told the conference that the international community has to resolve a host of legal issues and enact new laws to ensure the exploration and use of outer space resources is utilized to the maximum for the progressive cause of the humankind, and the environment of outer space is protected.

Wang, also a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, called for more international exchanges and cooperation in space programs.

On the protection of space environment, Wang listed space debris from disintegration of launch vehicle, the use of nuclear-powered devices in deeper space probe, and irrecoverable satellites and materials launched from earth.

Mickael Torrado and Marco Ferrazzani from the European Space Agency are scheduled to make a presentation Tuesday on Europe's global navigation satellite system, popularly known as the Galileo Program.

Prof. Paul Larsen from Georgetown University of the Untied States, will make a presentation Tuesday on the American Global Navigation Satellite System, which will be followed by a presentation by Chinese experts on China's navigation and positioning system.

Source: Xinhua