Recently, a seminar on FENGYUN (FY) meteorological satellites serving the Belt and Road, jointly organized by the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) and the China National Space Administration (CNSA), was convened in Beijing, China. It summarized the achievements and experience of the global services of FY satellites in recent years, formulated plans for the follow-up global service work of FY satellites, and availed itself to supporting the implementation of the United Nations' Early Warnings for All Initiative.

The seminar has also recognized the fruitful outcome achieved in the global services provided by FY satellites and the international cooperation of meteorological early warning.

This event has reached three consensus. Firstly, further optimizing the layout, elevating the global monitoring capability of FY satellites, and sharing China's plans and practice for global disaster prevention and mitigation. Secondly, keeping tabs on international demands, improving the meteorological satellite product and service system, and conducting custom-made FY satellite services for specific countries. Thirdly, reinforcing coordination between departments, boosting the global meteorological governance capacity of FY satellite service, and consolidating multi-level collaboration with professional international institutions.

Currently, FY satellites precisely monitor various global weather and climate events, becoming the backbone of the global observing system. In August this year, heavy rain battering western coastal area of Yemen triggered floods. China's meteorological departments provided satellite remote sensing data, products, reports, and weather forecasting services for more than a month. Meteorological departments of Yemen have repeatedly expressed gratitude.

Oriented towards the full-chain demand for overseas data reception, processing, and application, China's meteorological departments have redoubled its efforts to provide public meteorological products and services to the international community, in particular, the Belt and Road Initiative Partner countries.

Besides, the international version of "FENGYUN Earth" has been officially unveiled. A spectrum of various versions including global, regional, national, professional, and special service ones to shape up, covering more than 100 products.

China's meteorological departments have upgraded the overseas reception stations of the CMA Satellite Data Broadcasting System (CMACast) for meteorological departments in 13 countries including Malaysia, Maldives, and Pakistan.

FY satellite direct data reception stations in 8 countries including Thailand and Kyrgyzstan have been constructed, and in the meanwhile with the supply of satellite data processing and application software as supporting facilities.

The rapid scan mode of FY-4B has also been activated to provide services for Solomon Islands on the occasion of the 17th Pacific Games.

CMA has also established meteorological early warning operational system, which has been promoted and applied in countries such as Ethiopia and  Solomon Islands.

Urban Multi-hazard Early Warning Toolbox has been developed and put into pilot operation in cities such as Islamabad in Pakistan, Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia, and Macao in China.

So far, FY satellites have expanded services to 132 countries and regions worldwide, and the registered subscribers of the FY Meteorological Satellite International Disaster Prevention and Reduction Emergency Support Mechanism have reached 36 countries and regions.

In recent years, over 1400 trainees from 92 countries worldwide have received training courses on related technologies of FY satellites.

Editor: LIN Yutong, LIU Shuqiao