Ukraine's leading English-language newspaper since 1995

Ukraine and China on Sept. 2 agreed to increase cooperation in rokcet launching, space research and satellite tracking. The Ukrainian-Russian sub-commission for cooperation on outer space research and use for peaceful purposes has approved a new cooperation program at its seventh session in Beijing.

The new 2011-2015 space cooperation program includes over 50 joint projects, the Ukrainian National Space Agency told Interfax.

Priority and promising projects involving cooperation in areas such as creating space rocket systems, implementing research programs, and in particular, creating a satellite group for monitoring earthquakes and "space weather," and remote sensing devices.

The new program is due to be signed during Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych's visit to China, which began on Wednesday and will last until September 5.

Space cooperation between Ukraine and China is based on the 1995 Ukrainian-Russian intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the field of space research and use for peaceful purposes, as well as long-term cooperation plans.

The 2006-2010 Ukrainian-Chinese plan includes 29 long-term bilateral projects.