China is stepping up its implementation of "Europe-orientation" strategy for its international cooperation on the aerospace exploration. This information is from Sun Weigang, director of the astronautics of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, Dec.30.

Probe No.1, the first satellite within the Double Star Project which is the first Sino-Europe cooperation program on satellite for scientific exploration, was successfully launched at China's Xichang Satellite Launch Center on the wee hours of Dec.30. It was on the spot of the launch that Sun Weigang disclosed the information mentioned above in his exclusive interview. He regarded the successful lifting up of Probe No.1 as a classic of Sino-Europe cooperation and a sound foundation for the further bilateral coordination. It would, he said, undoubtedly lead to better cooperation in more extensive fields between the two sides.

According to Sun Weigang, there are three mature models for China's "Europe-orientation" strategy in its international cooperation on the aerospace exploration: joint production, parts and components procurement from each other, and joint ventures. Probe No.1 was a result of joint production. Sun, in charge of the astronautics section, also unveiled that China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation has signed an agreement with a French company Alcatel to make a communication satellite together.

Sun Weigang declared his company's ambition to be a world's leading aerospace business. Pushing forward its "Europe-orientation" strategy aggressively is one of the steps they take to make their dream come true. He bases his full confidence in China's capability of international cooperation on the aerospace exploration on China's increasingly powerful comprehensive strength, the successful manned space flight debut, mature satellite platform technology, carrier rockets with high reliability and low cost, and an army of quality talents on the aerospace technology.

Sun Weigang, as head of the astronautics department, hopes that the "Europe-orientation" strategy would help to add a mutually complimentary feature into Sino-Europe cooperation prospect on the aerospace technology so that better contributions can be made to the exploration and peaceful exploitation of the space by human.

(People's Daily December 30, 2003)