China can meet Chile's satellite needs: ambassador

Chile should consider China as a potential service provider as the South American country needs to replace its sole satellite, said Chilean ambassador to China Jorge Heine.

China is a first-class space power with 110 functioning satellites in orbit, a global satellite navigation system, a high-resolution earth observation system and advanced rockets, Heine wrote in an article in Tuesday's La Tercera daily.

"In recent years, China has seen significant success with crewed missions, moon landings and dockings between craft in outer space."

Some Latin American countries, such as Bolivia, Brazil and Venezuela, have benefited from China's space technology, said Heine.

"We need to maximize our use of satellite technology and information gathering, as big data influences public and private policy and business decisions today," he wrote. Endi