China will strengthen cooperation with the international community in the space industry, aiming for the peaceful development of space technology, a senior Chinese official said in Beijing on Monday.

China would also seek to expand its share of the international market for satellite launches and other space services, said Jin Zhuanglong, deputy director of the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense.

Jin told an international conference on the space industry that China had already signed 16 pacts with 13 governments and organizations and established space industry cooperation with more than 40 countries and international organizations.

Specifically, he said, China would deepen cooperation with Russia, the Ukraine and other European countries as well as South American countries such as Argentina, Chile and Peru.

In Asia, it would work towards the establishment of the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization, which would be based in Beijing.

China, Pakistan, Peru and six other countries signed a treaty last year to establish the organization, and agreed that it would take effect upon its ratification by at least five members. China's legislature ratified the treaty in June.

China will also seek to engage in "substantive" cooperation with space organizations in the United States and Canada, Jin said.

In the next five years, China will work with Pakistan to develop and launch three earth resources prospecting satellites.

China will also manufacture and launch telecommunications satellites for Nigeria and Venezuela, according to contracts already signed.

(Xinhua News Agency August 29, 2006)