Under the initiative of the 14th China-EU Leaders' Meeting in 2012, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the European Commission and the European Space Agency established the dialogue mechanism for China-EU cooperation on space science and technology. The China-EU-ESA Dialogue on Space Technology Co-operation has been held for five consecutive sessions so far.
Through the space dialogue mechanism and by fulfilling the demands of the leaders of China and EU, the Space Dialogue Meeting has played an active role in strengthening China-EU cooperation on science and technology innovation, promoting economic win-win situation, consolidating political partnership and deepening China-EU partnership for peace, growth, reform and civilization.
Under the space dialogue mechanism, China and EU have conducted high-level dialogues and exchanges in the fields of satellite navigation, earth observation and space exploration, established working groups and carried out substantive exchanges and cooperation.
On November 27, 2018, Zhang Jianguo, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology and Administrator of the State Administration for Foreign Experts Affairs, Lowri Evans, Director-General of DG GROW of the European Commission, and Jan Woerner, Director General of the European Space Agency jointly chaired the Fifth Meeting of China-EU-ESA Dialogue on Space Technology Cooperation in Brussels.
On the 5th Space dialogue meeting, all sides unanimously affirmed the important role of the China-EU-ESA dialogues on space technology cooperation in promoting China-Europe cooperation in satellite navigation, earth observation, space science and exploration and other fields since 2012.
The meeting established for the first time a working group mechanism. Before the meeting, China and Europe organized three working group meetings on satellite navigation, earth observation, space science and exploration. These working group meetings showcased the achievements of China-EU pragmatic cooperation in space science and technology and produced the results of the three working groups, which were reported at the China-EU-ESA Dialogue on Space Technology Cooperation. During the meeting, Vice Minister Zhang and Director General Jan Woerner signed a Dragon Program Cooperation Agreement. Both sides agreed to carry out the Dragon Program V, and to strengthen and continue the cooperation mechanism between the two sides.