December 17, 2008, A cooperation agreement to establish a Joint Laboratory for Space Science & High-Tech Application, based in Yanshan University, was signed during a ceremony at CSSAR. The following leaders attended the signing ceremony: CCP Yanshan University committee secretary Meng Weidong, Yanshan University vice president Yang Yulin, Xie Chengsuo – vice director of Qinhuangdao City Bureau of Science & Technology, Li Jing – director of the CAS Beijing branch office of Academy-Locality cooperation, CSSAR director Wu Ji, CCP CSSAR committee secretary Li Yonghai, and CSSAR vice director Liao Fangyu.

Director Wu Ji and secretary Meng Weidong, as representatives of CSSAR and Yanshan University respectively, signed the cooperation agreement. According to the agreement, the two sides are to establish the Joint Laboratory, by utilizing each side’s technological advantages and achievements, to initiate an experiment platform facilitating mechanical design and theory-building of space environment and boosting innovative R&D in space payload and space science and high-tech. The platform is intended to advance the transformation and application of space science and high-tech in related engineering fields within Hebei province, and serves as an advanced practical base of R&D and experiments for the cultivation of space science talents.