BEIJING, Oct.10 (Xinhuanet) -- China and Europe will strengthen cooperation in developing a satellite positioning and navigation system.

    China has officially joined Europe's Galileo satellite navigation system project after the country signed an agreement with the European Union Saturday in Beijing, China Radio International reported Saturday.

    Under the agreement, China will provide two hundred million Euros for the project. So far, this is China's largest scientific project with foreign countries.

    The Galileo space project is a satellite positioning and navigation system for civilians, sponsored jointly by the European Commission and European Space Agency.

    The new Galileo satellites will provide more precise information and cover a larger area than the existing Global Positioning System,

    The project is expected to be operational by 2008. Enditem

    (CRIENGLISH.com)