Clay Mowry, President of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF), addresses the opening ceremony of the 76th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2025) in Sydney, Australia, Sept. 29, 2025. The 76th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2025) opened in Sydney on Monday, gathering thousands of space professionals, decision-makers, academics, industry leaders, astronauts, and students from around the world. (Xinhua/Li Xiaoyu)

SYDNEY, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- The 76th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2025) opened in Sydney on Monday, gathering thousands of space professionals, decision-makers, academics, industry leaders, astronauts, and students from around the world.

The five-day event, held under the theme "Sustainable Space: Resilient Earth," will serve as a global platform for fostering dialogue, collaboration, and innovation on space-based solutions for Earth and beyond, said the event organizer, the International Astronautical Federation (IAF), in a press release.

At the opening ceremony of the event, the 2025 IAF World Space Award - Team Category was presented to China's Chang'e-6 mission team.

Addressing the opening ceremony, IAF's President Clay Mowry said the event features more than 40 panel sessions on topics, around 200 technical sessions, and around 200 booths in the exhibition hall.

Bian Zhigang, deputy head of the China National Space Administration, said at a plenary event of IAC 2025 that China pays close attention to tackling climate change with space technologies and is willing to provide its best efforts to build a resilient Earth with international partners. ■