Posted: Thu, Sep 18, 2003, 2:25 PM ET (1825 GMT)
China will play a role in Galileo, the European satellite navigation system designed to compete with GPS, Chinese and European officials said Thursday. The European Union announced the agreement in a press release Thursday, saying that China would cooperate with the EU in a variety of ways, including "science and technology, industrial manufacturing, service and market development, as well as standardization, frequency and certification." The initial agreement does not include any financial contribution by China, but the release said that the agreement "opens the way" for China to buy into the Galileo Joint Undertaking at some future date. As part of the agreement ESA will open a satellite navigation training, cooperation, and information center in China; the center is slated to open Friday.

Related Links:

•  European Commission press release
•  Xinhua article
•  ESA press release
•  Reuters article