The Joint Technical Coordination Meeting of the Small Multi-Mission Satellite (SMMS) Project of Asia Pacific Multilateral Cooperation in Space Technology and Applications (AP-MCSTA) was hosted by China National Space Administration (CNSA) on April 4-6, 2002 in the newly established Secretariat of AP-MCSTA, Beijing, P.R.China.

Delegates from the SMMS Member States of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, People's Republic of China, Republic of Korea, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Thailand and the representative from the Embassy of Mongolia in Beijing participated in this meeting.

The MOU on the Cooperation in SMMS project was jointly signed by China, Iran, Republic of Korea, Mongolia, Pakistan and Thailand on April 22 1998 in Bangkok, marking the initiation of this program. Bangladesh joined the program in 1999. From May of 1998 to May of 2001, five Project Committee meetings were held for the discussion and confirmation of responsibility distribution and working plans. This meeting was held for further discussion on the technical matters among the SMMS Member States.

The delegations re-iterated the importance of the SMMS Project and stressed on acquiring space technology through this project by joint participation. They expressed their confidence that this project and AP-MCSTA would bring benefit for sustainable regional socio-economic development and facilitate the peaceful uses of outer space. The representatives will make efforts to push this project forward.

The representatives expressed that the establishment of permanent office of the Secretariat in Beijing has been a milestone for the promotion of AP-MCSTA.