— The Chinese government on June 16 released a white paper elaborating on the development of BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS), which has been independently developed and operated by China.

According to the document, China has formulated a three-step strategy for developing the BDS, aiming to complete the constellation deployment with 35 satellites around 2020 to provide services to global users, according to the document, which was unveiled by the State Council Information Office.

In the first step, China meant the project to provide services to domestic users, and in the second, the system expanded services to the Asia-Pacific region. The second one was achieved by the end of 2012.

The BDS will provide all-time, all-weather and high-accuracy positioning, navigation and timing services to global users, according to the document.

The BeiDou project was formally launched in 1994. The first BeiDou satellite was not launched until 2000. The 23rd satellite for the system was launched on June 12.

In addition to providing continuous, stable and reliable services for global users, the BDS is developed to safeguard national security, boost its economic and social development, and improve people’ s living standard.

According to the document, the BDS is meant to provide open satellite navigation services free of charge.

International cooperation and exchanges on navigation satellite systems will be encouraged and the BDS compatibility with other systems will be enhanced to provide better services to users.

“As the BDS joins hands with other navigation satellite systems, China will work with all other countries, regions and international organizations to promote global satellite navigation development and make the BDS better serve the world and benefit mankind”, it said.

Products related to the BDS have been widely applied in areas including communication and transportation, marine fisheries, weather forecasting, mapping and geographic information, forest fire prevention. according to the document.