On May 20, Erken·Tuniyaz, member of the Standing Committee and Vice President of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, along with other leaders from related departments inspected the construction site for the Steerable 110-m Aperture Radio Telescope ( SmART) or QiTai radio Telescope (QTT for short). Na Wang, Director of Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory (XAO), introduced the development background, strategic orientation and the construction progress of the QTT project together with current issues that need to be resolved.

Standing Committee member Erken·Tuniyaz fully affirmed the solid foundations that have been laid for the QTT project, and commented that our unremitting efforts have made possible for such great achievements. Party Committee and Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region attach great importance to the construction of the QTT project, and firmly support and promote the development of the project. At present, the QTT project has gained official approval from the National Development and Reform Commission, and inclusion into the “13th Five-Year Plan” of the Project Program of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the government report of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and the agenda of the 9th Congress of Party Members. The construction of the QTT project should be further adjusted in accordance with the overall deployment of China for resolving difficulties.

Erken·Tuniyaz also delivered words to all the participants that QTT, as a major national science and technology project, will make significant contributions to the economic and social development of Xinjiang, and even to the scientific and technological strategic development of China. Xinjiang is one of the core areas on the Silk Road Economic Belt, and QTT construction will drive the development of science, tourism and other related industries in Xinjiang. The development of QTT is inseparable from the cooperative efforts of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Changji Prefecture, Qitai County and the Xinjiang Branch of Chinese Academy of Sciences. Relevant departments should take their responsibilities for improving and accelerating the development of the QTT project, with the aim to complete the project before the “The 20th National Congress of the CPC”. He carried out the work on coordinating the radio quiet zone protection, power supply in Qitai Station and residents relocation problems. He showed great expectations and appreciation for the efforts that we made, and stated that we should have confidence and unshakable determination in the development of QTT project.

The visit was carried out with the companions of the Deputy Secretary General of Xinjiang Government, Gao, Zhimin; Secretary of Party Committee of Commission of Tourism Development, Hou, Hanmin, Vice President of Xinjiang Branch, Mou, Zhenjiang; Deputy Director of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Development and Reform Commission, Guo, Wenyi; Member of the Standing Committee of Changji Prefecture, Abudurym·Halik; and the Secretary of Qitai County Committee, Ma, Xudong.