MACAO, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) - The 2026 Macao International Forum on Space and Planetary Sciences kicked off on Tuesday, drawing more than 300 scholars in the fields of space and planetary sciences from over 10 countries and regions.The forum, featuring a series of presentations and thematic discussions, was expected by the organizers to provide an open platform for researchers from diverse backgrounds to engage in dialogue and promote coordinated development of future research.President of Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST) Zhu Jian-Kang said at the opening ceremony that this forum aims to leverage Macao's role as a key hub for China's aerospace and deep-space research, strengthen exchanges and cooperation between China and the international planetary science community, and inspire young scholars to engage in space science research.Cheang Kun Wai, member of the administrative committee of the Macao Science and Technology Development Fund (FDCT), noted that the fund has long been committed to promoting local scientific innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration to facilitate Macao's active participation in global scientific development trends, particularly in space science.The event was organized by MUST, Shandong University, and the Association for Promotion of Science and Technology of Macao, and further supported by the FDCT.