European Union Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin is now in
China to broaden EU-China relations and reinforce cooperation in
science and technology.
He is accompanied on the visit by a delegation of leading
European business and space sector executives.
Space policy and nuclear fusion research, particularly the
International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project,
will top the agenda during his meetings with Chinese authorities
during his six-day visit, which began on April 6. Busquin will
continue his Asian tour with a visit to South Korea on April 12 and
13.
“The EU and China can both benefit greatly from improved
cooperation in the fields of science and technology,” said Busquin
in Beijing on April 7 at the opening ceremony of the EU-China
High-Level Workshop on Space Cooperation.
“Much has already been achieved, particularly in the fields of
biotechnology, food safety, SARS, energy and nuclear fusion, space
technologies and new materials. But more must be done. To boost
Europe’s competitiveness on the world stage we must continue to
build on our achievements by increasing cooperation in new
areas.”
Ma Songde, vice minister of science and technology, also
addressed the opening ceremony, saying, “The workshop will
definitely give great impetus to the development of space
technology in both China and EU nations.”
He added that the Chinese government advocates peaceful
utilization of outer space to benefit mankind.
At the workshop, government officials, specialists and business
people from Europe and China discussed space science and
technology, global navigation satellite systems, commercial
applications of space technologies, the training and mobility of
scientists, Global Monitoring for the Environment and Security
(GMES) and solar system and deep space exploration, as well as
plans to establish a long-term partnership between the EU and China
in related activities.
In 2003, the EU and China signed a cooperation agreement related
to the EU’s Galileo global satellite navigation program. The
EU-China Galileo Training and Cooperation Center was established in
Beijing last year.
The EU and China, together with Japan, Russia, South Korea and
the United States are partners in negotiations to jointly construct
and operate ITER, a research project on nuclear fusion energy. ITER
will provide a major step forward in developing fusion power
production.
Construction of ITER is estimated to cost around 4.5 billion
Euros. During his visit to China, Busquin will discuss negotiations
on the choice between the candidate sites: Cadarache in France and
Rokkasho-Mura in northern Japan.
Busquin and China’s Minister of Science and Technology Xu
Guanhua are also expected to sign a joint statement outlining their
mutual commitment to furthering science and technology cooperation
and to announce the establishment of the High-Level Steering Group
on EU-China Space Cooperation.
Busquin will speak at Tsinghua University on April 8 before
making a series of visits to facilities in Hubei and Anhui
provinces.
(China.org.cn April 8, 2004）