Pakistan, China to establish space agency
Argentine, Brazil, Ukraine also keen on joining Apsco
BEIJING: Pakistan, China and some other regional countries have agreed to formally launch Asia Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (Apsco) for developing space technology.
The Apsco is being set up to promote capabilities of the member countries in several areas of space technology applications, said Muhammad Nasim Shah, senior adviser of the Asia-Pacific Multilateral Cooperation in Space Technology and Applications (AP-MCSTA).
He told APP here in an interview that the four Asia-Pacific countries, China, Pakistan, Peru and Thailand have already conveyed the approval of their respective parliaments and governments to sign the Apsco convention.
As per Article 29 of the convention, the Apsco convention will enter into force when at least five states of the Asia-Pacific Region, which are members of the United Nations, have signed it and have deposited with the host government their instruments of ratification or acceptance.
Expressing the hope that the Apsco will be established shortly, he said the government of Argentine has approved the convention and requested for granting observer’s status with Apsco, since it is located outside the geographic region of Apsco.
Brazil and Ukraine have informed that they were also interested in joining the Apsco as associate members/observers. Other governments of Asia-Pacific countries are reportedly reviewing the Convention and the procedure of approval as their signatures are in progress in their parliaments, he added.
China has offered to provide full financial support in connection with the establishment and operation of the Apsco until 2006. As such, the member states are not under any obligation to make financial contributions during the preparatory phase.
The member states will be required to pay their financial contributions from the year 2007.
Nasim Shah, former secretary Suparco who played a pioneering role in formulating charter and convention of the proposed Asia-Pacific Space Agency, said efforts are being intensified to formally launch the organization at an early date in order to expand cooperation in space activities in the region.
http://jang.com.pk/thenews/jun2005-daily/2...national/n1.htm
Argentine, Brazil, Ukraine also keen on joining Apsco
BEIJING: Pakistan, China and some other regional countries have agreed to formally launch Asia Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (Apsco) for developing space technology.
The Apsco is being set up to promote capabilities of the member countries in several areas of space technology applications, said Muhammad Nasim Shah, senior adviser of the Asia-Pacific Multilateral Cooperation in Space Technology and Applications (AP-MCSTA).
He told APP here in an interview that the four Asia-Pacific countries, China, Pakistan, Peru and Thailand have already conveyed the approval of their respective parliaments and governments to sign the Apsco convention.
As per Article 29 of the convention, the Apsco convention will enter into force when at least five states of the Asia-Pacific Region, which are members of the United Nations, have signed it and have deposited with the host government their instruments of ratification or acceptance.
Expressing the hope that the Apsco will be established shortly, he said the government of Argentine has approved the convention and requested for granting observer’s status with Apsco, since it is located outside the geographic region of Apsco.
Brazil and Ukraine have informed that they were also interested in joining the Apsco as associate members/observers. Other governments of Asia-Pacific countries are reportedly reviewing the Convention and the procedure of approval as their signatures are in progress in their parliaments, he added.
China has offered to provide full financial support in connection with the establishment and operation of the Apsco until 2006. As such, the member states are not under any obligation to make financial contributions during the preparatory phase.
The member states will be required to pay their financial contributions from the year 2007.
Nasim Shah, former secretary Suparco who played a pioneering role in formulating charter and convention of the proposed Asia-Pacific Space Agency, said efforts are being intensified to formally launch the organization at an early date in order to expand cooperation in space activities in the region.
http://jang.com.pk/thenews/jun2005-daily/2...national/n1.htm