Overseas Beidou system opens in Tunisia

The first overseas center for China's Beidou Satellite Navigation System, the China-Arab Beidou Center, has opened in Tunis, capital of Tunisia, reports Xinhua.

A model of the Beidou satellite navigation system on display during an exhibition in Beijing, September 26, 2017. [Photo: VCG]

Located in the Jazala Science Park on the northern outskirts of Tunis, the center will provide personnel training and technological research for Arab nations.

Independently developed by China, Beidou is the world's fourth global navigation satellite system following the United States' GPS, the Russian GLONASS and the European Union's Galileo.

Ran Chengqi, director of the China Satellite Navigation Office, has told an unveiling ceremony for China-Arab Beidou Center that it will be a platform for promoting international exchanges and cooperation.

A model of the Beidou satellite navigation system on display during an exhibition in Beijing, September 26, 2017. [Photo: IC]

"China will work with the Arab Information and Communication Technologies Organization to build the Beidou center into a model project, turning it into a link for the Beidou system among China and Arab nations in order to promote technological innovation," said Ran.

Mohamed Ben Amor, Secretary-General of the Arab Information and Communication Technologies Organization, says the organization will strengthen communication and collaboration with China in the field of satellite navigation, as well as bring Beidou-based services to Arab states to enhance social and economic development.

The China-Arab Beidou Center is holding its first satellite navigation training course this week.