Representatives from 14 nations and a United Nations organization gathered here Monday to discuss the formation of the proposed Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO), which is being designed to promote the peaceful use of space and space applications in the Asia-Pacific region.

Among those attending the Second Meeting of the Drafting Group on the APSCO Convention are representatives from Bangladesh, Brazil, China, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Iran, Malaysia, Mongolia, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Thailand, Pakistan, Ukraine, Chile and the UN Economic and Social Council.

Brazil and some countries outside the Asia-Pacific Region came as observers, and it has been agreed that the proposed APSCO will be based in Beijing.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Luan Enjie, director of the China National Space Administration, said the Chinese government will, as always, support the establishment of the organization at an earlier date, make due contributions and facilitate its work in various aspects in the early years of its founding.

The Chinese government will continue strengthening its space exchange and cooperation with other countries under the principle of equality and mutual benefit, noted the director.

"We are willing to join hands with people of all nations to make due contribution to the peaceful exploration and uses of space resources for the progress and common development of humankind."

Luo Ge, director of the Foreign Affairs Department of the administration, and secretary general of the Asia-Pacific Multilateral Cooperation in Space Technology and Applications, said that countries interested in joining the proposed organization intend to make use of space technology in environmental protection and disaster reduction, resources exploration, construction, telecommunications and distance education.

China, Thailand and Pakistan initiated multilateral cooperation in 1992 in space technology and applications in the Asia-Pacific Region, and substantial breakthroughs have been made in the past decade in the bid to set up APSCO, said the director.

Alexander Lim, an official with the Department of Sciences and Technology of the Philippines, said his country hopes that multilateral cooperation through the planned space body will help the country exploit natural resources and disaster reduction using space technology.

Seven countries, namely China, Thailand, Pakistan, the ROK, Mongolia, Bangladesh and Iran, launched a program in 1994 to develop a multi-mission small satellite, which is expected to be sent into space in 2005, said the director.

The satellite will be used to observe the earth and for telecommunications, he added.

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