The Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organisation (APSCO) will be officially set up next year after final approval from participating governments, the China Daily said.

Representatives from 14 countries and the United Nations are in Beijing to sign formal proceedings following a preliminary meeting last year in Bangkok, which designated the Chinese capital as APSCO's headquarters.

Among those attending are officials from Bangladesh, Brazil, China, South Korea, Iran, Malaysia, Mongolia, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Thailand, Pakistan, Ukraine and Chile -- some as observers.

Luan Enjie, minister of China's National Space Administration, said the purpose of the new grouping was to promote the development of space technologies and their applications.

"We are willing to join hands with people of all nations to make due contribution to the peaceful exploration and uses of space resources for the progress and common development of humankind," he said.

China is the leading player in space exploration in the Asia-Pacific, becoming only the third country to send a man into space with its successful Shenzhou V mission last month.

Luo Ge, secretary general of the Asia-Pacific Multilateral Cooperation in Space Technology and Applications, said countries joining APSCO could make use of space technology in environmental protection and disaster reduction, resources exploration, construction, telecommunications and distance education.

He said China and other countries will develop and launch eight satellites within the next eight years to monitor the natural conditions of the planet and send back data and images to be used specifically by Asia-Pacific nations.

SPACE.WIRE