Visiting Chinese president Hu Jintao, who arrived in Brazil's largest city Sao Paulo on Sunday via Rio de Janeiro, visited Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE) Monday.

Hailing the concerted efforts of both sides, Hu said: "The China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite (CBERS) Programme has made eye-catching achievements and set an example of south-south cooperation in new and high technology."

The CBERS project was launched by INPE and the Chinese Academy of Space Technology to set up a complete remote sensing system that is both competitive and compatible with present international needs.

Hu said strengthening cooperation in space technology between China and Brazil will be an advantage to both and help both develop.

The satellites means the two developing nations can reduce their dependence on the use of remote-sensing images provided by developed countries.

Project manager of INPE Luiz Bueno told China Daily the two countries will launch a third Earth observation satellite in the second half of 2006.

Two were sent into orbit in 1999 and 2003 under the CBERS programme.

The countries' success means Brazil and China have decided to manufacture and launch another two satellites, CBERS-3 and CBERS-4 with "much improved characteristics" by year 2011, he said.

The cooperative programme on remote sensing satellites began in July 1988.

The satellites are used by the two countries to monitor changes to land resources, detect river and ocean pollution and to formulate resource conservation strategy.

(China Daily November 16, 2004)