30 Nov. - 05 Dec. 1992
Beijing, China

The Asia-Pacific Workshop on Multilateral Cooperation in Space Technology and Applications, Jointly organized by the China International Exchange Centre for Space Science & Technology (CIECS), Chinese Society of Astronautics (CSA), Pakistan Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), Thailand Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC), attended by the participants from Australia, Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, Turkmenistan, U.S.A and Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan area, and the United Nations, was held in Beijing, China from November 30 to December 5, 1992.

H. E. Mr. Qian Qichen, State Councilor and Minister of The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on behalf of the Chinese Government addressed the opening ceremony. H. E. Mr. Jiang Zemin, the General Secretary of Central Committee of Chinese Communist Party met with the participants of the Workshop.

Through discussions and consultations during the Workshop, the participants,

bearing in mind that the peaceful uses of outer space for the good of all the human beings should be the unique purpose of enhancing international cooperation in space.

noting that the space technology and its applications are making a widespread and profound influence on the economic development of the world and of the progress of the human society.

recognizing that the development of space technology and its applications in Asia-Pacific region will engender fresh vigor into the continual economic growth in the region.

realizing the need to develop and foster the multilateral cooperation in space technology and applications in Asia—Pacific region, due to the very nature of high investments and comprehensive involvements in space

Unanimously recommend:
1. to enhance the multilateral and bilateral cooperation in space technology and its applications in Asia-Pacific region, and to find out modes and approaches in this regard;

2. to adopt the guiding principles for multilateral cooperation in space technology and applications in the region as follows:

a. to mutually respect the rights of each country in decision making on the modes of space development based on its national perspectives and requirements taking fully into account the diversity in the region;
b. to promote the multilateral and bilateral cooperation in space technology and its applications for the mutual benefit of all the countries in the region;
c. to persevere in strengthening the regional cooperation in space technology and its applications by means of mutual exchange of information consistent with the laws, regulations and commercial interests of the participating nations;
d. to seek and provide assistance within the Asian-Pacific countries as far as possible, for development of space technology and applications;
e. to seek common ground on major issues while resolving differences on minor ones through mutual consultations and dialogues.

3. to form a Liaison Committee for Asia-Pacific Multilateral Cooperation in Space Technology and Applications, acknowledging the necessity of setting up a vital linkage among the countries of the region for this purpose, and to entrust China with the responsibility to act as the Coordinator of the Liaison Committee during the first two years of its establishment. The Liaison Committee shall be composed of the official representatives from the participating countries in the region to discuss/discharge the following work:

a. to formulate proposals on and organize the Conferences on multilateral cooperation in space technology and applications in the region,
b. to coordinate with and strengthen the existing training centers in Asia-Pacific region for imparting training to the necessary, plan for setting up of new Asia-Pacific training centers,
c. to plan for a mechanism for exchange of the regional data on multilateral cooperation in space technology and applications and to publish periodical reports on the regional space activities,
d. to identify and recommend the potential multilateral cooperation projects, the formation of the Project Coordination Committee and organization of the Working Groups on Various projects of common interest, including, inter alias, the following:

1) Microgravity Experiments;
2) Small Satellites Technology;
3) Remote Sensing Satellites Technology/applications;
4) Satellite Disaster Mitigation Systems;
5) Communications Satellite Technology/Applications;
6) others

e. to coordinate other relevant affairs of multilateral cooperation in space technology and applications.

4. to hold the Asia-Pacific conference on multilateral cooperation in space technology and applications in Thailand, at the end of 1993 or early 1994, to review and discuss further the modes, approaches and projects of Asia-Pacific multilateral cooperation in space technology and applications and the relevant issues involved in further promoting the multilateral cooperation in the region.

The above recommendations were adopted by consensus at the Plenary Session of the Workshop on December 3, 1992.