History

Following a September 2003 meeting in Paris between Prof. Xu Guanhua, Minister of Science and Technology of the Peoples Republic of China (MOST) and Mr Jean Jacques Dordain, Director General of the European Space Agency (ESA), it was agreed that a joint research programme in the field of remote sensing be initiated. As directors responsible for the programme, Prof. Shao Liqin, Director General of National Remote Sensing Center of China, and Prof. Jose Achache, Director of ESA Earth Observation Programmes, have stressed the creation of joint Sino-European teams as a means to stimulate scientific exchange in Earth Observation science and technology. As a consequence, a formal programme of co-operation, "The Dragon Programme", has been initiated that brings together investigators from Europe and China. The April 2004 Dragon Symposium serves as the formal kick off for joint EO exploitation and application development using ERS and Envisat data in China. The following provides more detailed information on the land, ocean and atmospheric investigations that have been agreed and are to be undertaken.