Space law and technology experts from the world's major space powers are scheduled to meet in Beijing from April 25 to 27 to discuss issues concerning international space law and the development and commercial use of space technology, the Chinese Institute of Space Law said Sunday.

Qi Yongliang, executive director of the institute, said experts from the United States, China, France, Germany, Japan, Britain, India and some other countries are expected to discuss such major issues as plans by Asian countries to enact space laws and polices, applications of the global satellite navigation system, and outer space remote sensing and telecommunications.

At the meeting to be staged by the institute in cooperation with the International Institute of Space Law, an expert from the State Department of the United States will brief on American space law legislation, while an official from the European Space Agency will make a report on the Europe-funded project of a global satellite navigation system, said Qi.

A group of Chinese space experts will deliver separate reports on the progress of China's space technology and future programs, China's satellite technology and manned space technology, and the development and application of the country's satellite navigation and positioning system, and commercial space launch services.

The Republic of Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Austria, Indonesia, Australia and some other regions will also be represented at the seminar, said Qi.

(Xinhua News Agency February 23, 2004)