China is capable of cooperating with developed countries in some high-tech fields, said Vice Minister of Science and Technology Ma Songde Thursday.

Ma said in a speech that China, as an equal cooperative partner, took an active part in the Galileo satellite navigation system, a major European project, highlighting the high-tech cooperation between China and foreign partners.

The 3.5-billion-euro Galileo system is a network of 30 satellites intended for civilian use, and will end Europe's reliance on the US-controlled global positioning system (GPS).

As the first non-EU country, China promised that it would invest 200 million euros in the project. Since July, China has signed seven technological development and service contracts with European partners.

China and the European Union signed a science and technology agreement in 1998, laying a solid base for their cooperation. Ma said according to this historic agreement, China have participated in more EU programs than any other non-EU nations.

Besides the high-tech cooperation with European countries, China also witnessed remarkable progress in scientific and technological exchanges with other nations.

Ma said over past two decades, China has conducted exchanges in scientific and technological fields with 152 countries and regions, and dispatched diplomats of sciences and technologies to 47 countries and regions.

Ma said in future, China should take more active part in both regional and international cooperation in some major scientific and technological programs, and China's high-tech industry should enter the market of both developed countries and developing countries.

(Xinhua News Agency December 30, 2005)