As invited by the Five-hundred meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) project, the Australian Ambassador in China, Ms. Frances Adamson, the Consul General in Chengdu, Ms. Nancy Guo, and their entourage, visited FAST site, the national mega-science infrastructure under construction, on 27 November 2014. The deputy manager of FAST project, Prof. Bo Peng, accompanied with the visitors.
At the FAST site in DaWoDang of PingTang County in QianNan Prefecture of GuiZhou Province, the construction progress of FAST and the relationship between FAST and Square Kilometre Array (SKA) projects were introduced to the Ambassador Ms. Adamson’s delegation. Ms. Adamson extensively discussed with FAST staff about the role of mega science project in promoting the local economy and high-tech development. She even climbed up the FAST reflector ring girder, closely touching the spectacular and charm of the largest single dish radio telescope in the world.
Ms. Adamson and her entourage also visited HaoHuaHong town in HuiShui County on 27 November 2014. They appreciated the customs of BuYi minority and the outcomes of China’s new countryside construction. The Secretary General of the committee of QianNan Prefecture, Mr. ChangChun Long, and the governor of QianNan Prefecture, Ms. HongQiong Xiang accompanied the visitors. The next day, on 28 November 2014, the governor of GuiZhou Province, Mr. MinEr Chen interviewed the Ambassador and hosted a banquet for the Ambassador and her entourage. Both sides have carried out the effective communication on the cooperation of China-Australia Province/State. Meanwhile, Mr. Chen has put forward that the relevant departments in Guizhou need to work jointly with the National Astronomical Observatory of China for promoting local support plan of the FAST project, and to make full use of the opportunity of construction and operation of FAST to enhance the domestic and international communication on science & technology, education, culture and economy in GuiZhou Province, to develop science popularization tourism, and to prepare for and welcome the era of FAST.
