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Asia-Pacific nations sign space convention
By Cao Desheng (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-10-29 06:30
Eight countries from the Asia-Pacific region signed a convention on space
co-operation in Beijing on Friday as the precursor to establishing an
inter-governmental organization facilitating international alliances in the
peaceful use of space.
The convention signed by Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iran, Mongolia, Pakistan,
Peru, Thailand and China will take effect once five or more United Nations
members in the region sign the document and deliver the instrument of
ratification to the Chinese Government, the host country.
The signing marks a milestone for the official launch of the Asia-Pacific
Space Co-operation Organization (APSCO), which will be headquartered in Beijing.
"China is ready to work together with other countries in the peaceful use of
space resources to allow all of the world's people to benefit from the space
technology and its application," Vice-Premier Huang Ju said at the signing
ceremony.
He added that, as the organization's host country, China welcomes more
applications to join the group from throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
In 1992, China initiated a motion on multilateral co-operation in space
technology and application in the Asia-Pacific region along with Thailand and
Pakistan and has been promoting the establishment of the organization ever
since.
"It has become a consensus that the rapid growth of the
space industry needs broad and close international teamwork considering its high
economic input and great risks in research and exploration," Luo Ge,
vice-director of the China National Space Administration, told a news conference
on Friday.
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