China will, under a recent agreement, help Laos develop a telecommunications satellite and a ground station, and train relevant staff, Lao newspaper Vientiane Times reported on Monday.

Under the agreement signed by Bountiem Phissamay, head of Laos' National Authority for Science and Technology, last Friday in Laos, and inked earlier in China by Sun Laiyan, chief of China's National Space Administration, the Chinese side will exchange technical information with Laos in the fields of earth observation, remote sensing satellite technology and application of remote sensing data.

The two authorities will also cooperate to exchange information about satellite imaging and develop a program to read data from satellite images.

Developing Laos' expertise in space technology will be beneficial to the country's socioeconomic development, according to the National Authority for Science and Technology. It can be used to facilitate long-distance transmission of audio and visual materials, and national land surveys.

(Xinhua News Agency August 25, 2008)