BEIJING, Aug 30: China will work with Pakistan to launch three earth resource satellites over the next five years. Officials on Wednesday said that relevant institutions of the two counties had already started groundwork to launch the satellites within the stipulated period.

According to the sources, Pakistan-China bilateral cooperation in the space industry could span a broad spectrum of topics, including climate science, clean energy technologies, clean water technologies, cyber-security, basic space, atmospheric and earth sciences and marine sciences, the sources added.

The two countries have been playing an active role at the regional level as well, strengthening cooperation in the space industry. Pakistan, China and seven other countries signed a treaty for the establishment of Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organisation (APSCO) in 2005, and it would take effect upon ratification by five members.

China’s legislature ratified the treaty in June, said Jin Zhuanglong, deputy director of the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense. “We are looking forward to expand the country’s share of the international market for satellite launches and other space services,” he added.

Mr Jin told an international conference on the space industry that China had already signed 16 pacts with 13 governments and organisations and established space industry cooperation with more than 40 countries and international organisations.

Specifically, he said, China would deepen cooperation with Russia, the Ukraine and other European countries as well as South American countries such as Argentina, Chile and Peru.

In Asia, China is actively engaged in the setting up APSCO, which would be based in Beijing. Eight countries — China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iran, Mongolia, Peru and Thailand — signed the document last October. Turkey also signed the convention June this year, making it the ninth member of the organisation.

The APSCO will be formally established after China receives approvals from at least five participating countries’ parliaments. Chinese Vice-Premier Huang Ju said in a statement that China will work closely with related countries to contribute to the peaceful use of outer space.

The formation of the APSCO will be beneficial to further exchanges and cooperation in space technology and its application and promoting economic and social development, and common prosperity, in the region, he added.—APP