Distinguished audience, Excellencies, dear colleagues and guests; 

This coming week will give us the opportunity to participate in one of the most anticipated congresses of our association. The 27th Congress of the Association of Space Explorers is taking place in the country with the most numerous population, with one of the most significant contributions to rocketry and to the evolution of flight, with exceptional economic progress, as well as outstanding scientific and technological achievements, a country which, over the last decades, has become one of the most prominent participants in manned and unmanned space exploration.
China is well-known as an exceptional organizer of international events and I am sure that we shall benefit from this fact once again this week. Together with the entire executive committee of the ASE and the Chinese organizers, led by our colleague Yang Liwei, we have worked hard for all organizational details and for the agenda of the congress that starts today. I want to thank from the bottom of my heart to all the persons involved in organizing this major congress, for their tremendous effort to make this event a success.

Figure:  Mr Dorin in an interview (Taken by Zhang Titi)

The topic of this year’s congress is “Cooperation: To Realize Humanity’s Space Dream Together”. By choosing this topic, in a world full of controversies and confrontations, our Association  intends to make its contribution to a better human understanding, to the peaceful cooperation needed to fly into the space  and to use space for the benefit of all beings on our planet. 
During the six long days of our congress we shall visit many universities and educational institutions, companies and schools in various locations over the country and we shall share our experience with students and researchers, we shall visit unique places and return home with everlasting memories.
The Association of Space Explorers is an international non -profit professional and educational organization of over 395 astronauts and cosmonauts from 36 nations. 
ASE was founded in 1985 in Cernay, France, by a small group of American, Russian and international fliers, including a small number of colleagues present here today. 
ASE's mission is to: provide a forum for professional dialogue among individuals who have flown in space; to support space science and exploration for the benefit of all; to promote and support education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM); to foster environmental awareness and planetary stewardship; and to encourage international cooperation in the human exploration of space.
ASE is also now a member of the International Astronautical Federation and ASE members and staff participate on the IAF Human Space Exploration and Life Sciences committees. I want also to wish the 36th Expedition which is now aboard ISS a successful flight and a soft landing.
Thank you once again for hosting us here and offering us the possibility to show the world what means outer space, education and future of new space generations.
(Dumitru-Dorin Prunariu is the president of ASE and former Romanian astronaut)