The 8th China-ESA Space Science Bilateral Meeting was held in Sanya, 8-9 March 2012. During the two days’ fruitful meeting, substantial agreements on some key cooperation areas were made.

　　Prior to the bilateral meeting, the ESA delegation, accompanied by Dr. Wang Chi, Deputy Director General of NSSC, visited the NSSC Danzhou Sounding Rocket Launching Facilities and NSSC Observatories. The bilateral meeting was co-chaired by Dr. Wu Ji, Director General of NSSC, and Dr. Alvaro Giménez Cañete, Director of ESA Science and Robotic Exploration. The ongoing space science programs on both sides were presented and the progress reports were exchanged. The two parties discussed the ongoing collaboration on HXMT project and the cooperation scenarios on Rosetta and Kuafu Projects etc. Both parties identified the areas of cooperation and finalized their understanding by signing a Minutes. Concerted actions will be taken to implement the agreement after the meeting.

　　

　　

　　

　　(Supplied by Office of International Cooperation)