BEIJING -- China will give priority to the development of applied satellites and construct a comprehensive chain of space industry covering satellite manufacturing, launching services, ground equipment production and operational services in the coming five years.

A white paper, titled "China's Space Activities in 2006" and issued on Thursday, says China will start and implement a high-resolution Earth observation system; develop and launch new-type sun synchronous orbit and geostationary-orbit meteorological satellites in the coming five years.

China will develop and launch oceanic satellites, Earth resources satellites, small satellites for environmental protection and disaster mitigation monitoring and forecasting, according to the white paper issued by the Information Office of the State Council.

Introducing the major tasks of China's space industry in the coming five years, the white paper says China will start research into key technologies of new-type remote-sensing satellites, including stereo mapping satellites.

China aims to "form an all-weather, 24-hour, multi-spectral, differential-resolution Earth observation system for stable operation, and achieve stereoscopy and dynamic monitoring of the land, atmosphere and sea," the white paper says.

China will make an overall plan for the development of a satellite remote-sensing ground system and an application system, and will integrate and improve the present satellite remote-sensing ground system, establish and improve a national satellite remote-sensing data center.

China will develop and launch geostationary orbit telecommunications satellites and direct TV broadcasting satellites with long operating life, high reliability and large capacity, and will develop satellite technologies for live broadcast, broadband multi-media, emergency telecommunications, and telecommunications and broadcasting for public service, it says.

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