Chapter 950 - Xin Space Resources Development Forum (1/2)

At the end of January, with the end of the United Nations Outer Space Development Summit, the space elevator sent 400 staff members to Celestial City.

Most of them were the beneficiaries of the space volunteer immigration policy introduced by Xin. After several months to one year of training, they were now signed by Celestial as employees, receiving an enviable salary. They had already started in various positions at the space station.

At present, the entire Celestial City was still in a semi-closed state. Before it opened to public, there were still many civilian infrastructures that required further improvement. On the other hand, the micro-gravity laboratories began construction in collaboration with Hua and Russia, and both countries generously paid construction funds in full.

Of course, it was based on the current exchange rate and conducted in Xin’s currency for settlement.

During this half-month period, companies from Hua, Russia, and even the UA across from the Pacific Ocean sent their respective salesmen to Coro Island to engage with Celestial Trade.

From the highly anticipated ticket presale, they already saw the prospects of space tourism and the business opportunities behind it.

Some of them were international hotel chains like the Hilton Group, while some were space companies like SpaceX interested in port leasing. Even McDonald and KFC all came for the fun of discussing the expansion of their businesses in Celestial City.

Due to the excessive number of companies coming for engagement, Jiang Chen simply announced the convening of the Xin Space Resources Development Forum. He sent invitations to interested companies and individuals with the plan to host a forum at Future Building in early February.

…

In the large circular conference hall, there were dozens of round tables scattered in an organized manner. Fine wine and expensive champagne were placed on top of the tables. The slightly dim light created a mysterious atmosphere at the venue as well as a hint of silence.

Not all the attendees were handsome men and beautiful women, but all of them were successful businesspeople and entrepreneurs. Anyone picked by random could be the chairman or president of a multi-billion company. A Versace boutique suit might not even be more expensive than the suits worn by the waiters pouring champagne between the round tables.

At that very moment, the industry leaders gathered together in groups of three and five, whispering and exchanging opinions amongst themselves while waiting for the business forum to start. Most of the people were there for the same purpose—to establish a relationship with the person who was hosting his forum…

In the darkness, soft light illuminated. In front of the venue, Jiang Chen in a suit walked to the front of the stage and reached for the microphone on the podium.

“Welcome, everyone, to the Space Resources Development Forum held by Celestial Trade. I am representing Celestial Trade to express my gratitude for your presence.”

Jiang Chen bowed.

Modesty always made people feel good, and there was a round of applause.

Waiting for the applause to quiet down, Jiang Chen paused, and he started on the topic of the day.

“I believe that you’ve already conducted your research before your arrival. At the last United Nations Outer Space Summit, we proposed a framework for friendly cooperation. Celestial Trade will serve as a permanent neutral party, providing companies in any country with a platform to develop space resources…”

In his near half-hour speech, Jiang Chen first explained the size of the space market. The tourism industry alone, based on the market assessment by the Future People Group think tank, was more than 100 billion XND. The prospect of space mining was even more incalculable.

“… Some time ago, our company’s spacecraft captured the Bennu asteroid to the Earth-Moon system. And in the middle of last month, Future Mining launched its long-awaited asteroid mining program. According to our estimates, the asteroid has reserves of iron and titanium minerals in the tens of millions, and the economic value is more than 20 billion XND.”