ESA chief: Europe, China need more cooperation, exchange

The European Space Agency (ESA) will enhance cooperation and exchange of space technology between Europe and China, the head of the agency said in a recent interview with Xinhua. ESA Director-General Jean-Jacques Dordain added he was deeply impressed by the rapid development of the Chinese space industry in the past years. "I believe China's space industry will achieve greater success in the future since China has successfully launched several space rockets in recent years," said Dordain, who was attending the 63rd International Astronautical Congress in Naples, southern Italy. Dordain said the ESA hopes to have closer ties with China in space cooperation, especially in the field of testing space sciences, citing that China's first space test launch was carried out in cooperation with the ESA. Dordain noted another successful collaboration on the so-called "Dragon Project" which improved the level of technological application in remote sensorship on satellites. Organized by the International Astronautical Federation and its members, the 2012 International Astronautical Congress will take place until Friday.