HindustanTimes.com

Tuesday, September 23, 2003

China to participate in EU's Galileo satellite programme

Press Trust of India
Beijing, September 19

In a major boost to Sino-European Union cooperation, China has agreed to
participate in the Galileo project, Europe's major radio-navigation
programme.

Announcing this in Beijing, the European Commission in China said both sides
have reached an agreement to this effect here under which China would
participate in the Galileo project.

The agreement provides for cooperative activities on satellite navigation in
a wide range of sectors, notably science and technology, industrial
manufacturing, and service and market development, the press release said.
"China will help Galileo become the major world infrastructure in the
growing market for location services", Vice President of the European
Commission, Loyola De Palacio, responsible for the Galileo program, was
quoted as saying.

China and the EU have finalised a draft agreement, which will be submitted
to the next EU Transport Council meeting on October nine for formal approval
by the EU member states.

The text will also need approval by China's state council, the country's
cabinet, before it is submitted for signature at the forthcoming China-EU
summit on October 30, the release said.

As part of the Sino-EU cooperation, a "China-Europe global navigation
satellite system technical training and cooperation centre" (CENC) was
inaugurated here today, which would serve as a focal point for all
activities on galileo.

Galileo is the European Union's challenge to the Pentagon-controlled Global
Positioning System.

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