It is a great pleasure for me to be here today with Dr. Robinson to highlight the importance of international cooperation in space. This year is the fortieth anniversary of the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project and again, in 2015, the US and Russian Federation are undertaking another historic scientific endeavour with the One Year Mission to the International Space Station.
For these first two weeks of February, the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space is meeting here in the Vienna International Centre. As Secretariat for this Committee, the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) is working to promote international cooperation in the peaceful use and exploration of space, and in the utilization of space science and technology for sustainable economic and social development.
UNOOSA's Human Space Technology Initiative aims at involving more countries in activities related to human space flight and space exploration through international cooperation to make space exploration a truly international effort. We foster collaboration between partners from spacefaring and non-spacefaring countries and encourage emerging and developing countries to take part in space research and to benefit from space applications.
The Committee and its Subcommittees serve as a unique platform at the global level for international cooperation in space exploration and space activities. I look forward to follow the development of the One Year Mission, a vital mission for the future of space exploration. Human spaceflight research, such as this One Year Mission, will further advance space exploration for the benefit of all humankind.