China will help Europe develop GPS rival
( 2003-09-20 10:43) (UPI)
China will contribute to a new global satellite navigation system being developed by European nations, New Scientist reported Friday.
The Galileo satellite system will offer a more accurate civilian alternative to the Global Positioning System run by the U.S. military. China has promised $259 million in funding and will cooperate with technical, manufacturing and market development.
"China will help Galileo to become the major world infrastructure for the growing market for location services," Loyola de Palacio, European Union transport commissioner, said.
A new center to coordinate global cooperation was also announced by the European Commission, the European Space Agency and the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology on Friday. The China-Europe Global Navigation Satellite System Technical Training and Cooperation Center will be centered at Beijing University.
China already has a substantial commercial satellite-launch industry.
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