September 20, 2014: In a visit to India, Chinese President Xi Jinping signed a series of documents with India at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi, strengthening ties between the two countries. This is Xi’s first visit to India as head of the state.
Among the 15 MoUs signed between India and China is the agreement over peaceful use of space.
The agreement was signed by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman Radhakrishnan and his counterpart Zhang Jianhua, vice administrator of China National Space Administration (CNSA).
The MoU enables both sides to encourage exchange and cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, including Research and development of scientific experiment satellites, remote sensing satellites and communications satellites.
A detailed MoU was signed in 2002 but it did not work out because of non-conducive political environment. The 2002 MoU was meant for joint working initiatives in areas including disaster management and remote sensing applications.
An official said:
“R&D in the areas of space sciences and exploration, remote sensing and disaster management could be the three major areas that may come up for discussions. The finer details will take time to be worked out. Joint committees would be formed along with co-chairpersons to operationalise the agreement”.
Source: Financial Chronicle
