Despite strong proposals from France, Germany and Greece, China
has won the right to host the 2012 International Astronomical Union
(IAU) conference at this year's IAU meeting in Prague on
Wednesday.
Winning the right to host the conference, the first time China
has had such an honor in its 70 year IAU membership, will
significantly further China's development in astronomical studies,
told Fang Cheng, vice-chairman of the IAU, told Xinhua News
Agency.
It would also lead to improved cooperation between China and
other countries in this field, said Fang, who expected over 3,000
astronomers from across the world to visit Beijing in 2012.
The IAU, the world's largest astronomical society, was founded
in 1919 and holds its international conference every three
years.
One of the hottest topics at this year's meeting in Prague has
been the debate and voting on a new definition of a planet that
could increase the tally of planets in our solar system to 12 from
the current 9.
(Xinhua News Agency August 24, 2006)