In a significant move towards global collaboration in space exploration, China has welcomed new partners for its International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) initiative. The China National Space Administration (CNSA) and Senegal's space authority formalized their partnership during a two-day space conference in Tunxi, located in Anhui Province. Additionally, China's Deep Space Exploration Lab (DSEL) established memoranda with ten different institutions from countries such as Serbia, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates, broadening the scope of international engagement.

Launched in 2017, the ILRS initiative has already attracted more than 40 global institutions to cooperate with China. At the conference, DSEL's director, Wu Weiren, emphasized the ILRS's commitment to mutual consultation, joint construction, and shared benefits among international allies. This ambitious project features a scientific experimental facility that includes components on the lunar surface, in lunar orbit, and on Earth, intending to operate over the long-term with a combination of robotic and human presence.

Plans for the ILRS are divided into two phases. The first phase aims to establish a basic model of the station at the lunar south pole by 2035. Chief designer Wu Yanhua shared that the facility will encompass crucial capabilities such as power generation, central command, communication, navigation, and support for lunar explorations. The basic model is designed to facilitate scientific research within a vast radius around the lunar south pole.

Wu Yanhua also expressed an open invitation for nations around the world to engage with the program at various levels, from conceptual studies to full missions. Furthermore, he announced the establishment of multiple international organizations, including a cooperation committee and a coordinating headquarters, to strengthen collaborative efforts in this pioneering space exploration venture.