BEIJING, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Major celebrations of China's Space Day will start on April 24 in Xi'an, capital city of northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

This year's celebrations will focus on the applications of space technology in economic and social development, said Tian Yulong, chief engineer of the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence.

Chinese astronauts and scientists will give talks during the celebrations, and exhibitions will be held in Northwestern Polytechnical University, said Tian.

The exhibitions will showcase the achievements of China's lunar probe and the BeiDou satellite navigation system.

China designated April 24 as Space Day last year to mark the anniversary of the country's first satellite launch Dongfanghong-1 in 1970.

Xi'an is home to more than 200 aerospace research centers and enterprises.

Also, there will be over 200 events in other cities in China to celebrate the Space Day.