Tasks of the Middle East Space Conference 2024 kicked off today at Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre. The ceremony was held under the auspices of HH Sayyid Bilarab bin Haitham Al Said. The gathering brings together 400 experts and executives in the space sector from government departments and private sector firms from the Sultanate of Oman and abroad. Seventy speakers will elaborate on a wide spectrum of issues during the three-day event hosted by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, in cooperation with Euroconsult. The conference, which seeks to achieve the vision, objectives of Oman's space programme, will highlight investment opportunities in Oman as a regional gateway for space services and applications. Eng. Said Hamoud Al Ma'awali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, said that the conference constitutes a step forward in Oman's policy of economic diversification. The minister told reporters that the programme envisages the launch o f a satellite in 2025 and other programmes for close observation of the Earth through low-orbit satellites. The programme includes the development of related applications via satellites, said Al Ma'awali, noting that incubators for startups in the space field will be launched in 2024 or 2025. On the sidelines of the conference, an investment agreement was signed by National Satellite Services Company and Oman Telecommunications Company (Omantel) to inaugurate a company specialized in space services (codenamed 'Itlaaq') whose headquarters will be in the city of Al Duqm. The agreement was signed by HH Sayyid Azzan Qais Al Said, Chairman of the National Satellite Services Company's Board of Directors and Talal Said Al Ma'amari, CEO of Oman Telecommunications Company (Omantel). An exhibition held on the sidelines of the conference showcased the products of 25 local and international companies specialized in space technologies and sciences. The exhibition aims at bringing together providers and users of space services and technologies to exchange experiences and build effective partnerships and supply chain. It also helps attract investment opportunities and spread awareness about the progress made in space sector industry technologies. Source: Oman News Agency BEIJING, A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson on Monday said that China rejects any intervention in its internal affairs. 'We firmly oppose any attempt to cobble together exclusionary groupings in the name of cooperation, grossly interfere in China's internal affairs, attack and smear China and stoke confrontation and antagonism,' Xinhua quoted Spokesperson Mao Ning as saying at a daily press briefing. She said that the situation in the South China Sea is generally stable. China is committed to safeguarding its own territorial sovereignty, maritime rights and maritime interests, while managing differences properly with countries directly concerned through dialogue and consultation. 'Certain non-regional countries have sought to flex their muscles and incite confrontation in the South China Sea, which is not conducive to peace and stability in the region,' she said. 'I want to stress that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, and the Taiwan question is entirely China's internal affairs an d brooks no foreign interference,' Mao said. She said that the key to maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is upholding the one-China principle and firmly opposing separatist moves toward 'Taiwan independence.' Source: Syrian Arab News Agency