China and Nicaragua sign new agreement for spatial cooperation

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China and Nicaragua have signed a new space cooperation agreement as a result of a visit by Chinese delegates, engineers and scientists to the Central American country.

Among the agreements reached in the meetings held this week, the National Council of Universities of Nicaragua and the China Deep Space Exploration Laboratory signed a memorandum of cooperation “that benefits both parties in the development of the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS).

Nicaragua and China will establish a team dedicated to research in science, engineering and international cooperation. In addition, education and research opportunities will be offered for professors, students and experts from both nations.

Since the reestablishment of diplomatic ties between Nicaragua and China in 2021, cooperation agreements have been strengthened, exemplified primarily through infrastructure projects led by Chinese companies and other cooperation agreements in various areas.

In December 2023 the two countries elevated their relationship to a “strategic partnership” and later signed a Free Trade Agreement in January.

The Vice President of Nicaragua, Rosario Murillo, announced Nicaragua’s attendance at the First China Latin America and the Caribbean Space Cooperation Forum, which will take place in April in the People’s Republic of China.

This is not the first agreement of its kind between China and regional players in Latin America, as they have been promoting an increase in Beijing’s space activities in the Western Hemisphere over the last two decades.

Venezuela, for example, is also part of the ILRS project since September 2023, as a result of a state visit by Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro to China. Upon striking the agreement, they agreed that China would transport Venezuelans to the research base it plans to build on the moon.

Other countries in the region such as Peru, Bolivia, and Chile have also cooperated with China in the spatial exploration field in recent years, with agreements focused primarily on the development and construction of satellites.

Main source:

China y Nicaragua fortalecen cooperación espacial y tecnológica con firma de acuerdos | Nación. (2024, Marzo 20). https://www.nacion.com/el-mundo/centroamerica/china-y-nicaragua-fortalecen-cooperacion-espacial/ECU75PLFTZH2TAZ4HT5HWY4C4U/story/

Other related sources:

Concluye visita de autoridad de administración espacial de China en Nicaragua | El 19 Digital. (2024, Marzo 19). https://www.el19digital.com/articulos/ver/titulo:150259-concluye-visita-de-autoridad-de-administracion-espacial-de-china-en-nicaragua-

Nicaragua y China firman acuerdos para cooperación espacial | Revista Economía y Negocios (2024, Marzo 20). https://www.revistaeyn.com/centroamericaymundo/nicaragua-y-china-firman-acuerdos-para-cooperacion-espacial-BJ18225895

Nicaragua Y China Firman Acuerdos Para Cooperación Espacial | Barron’s (2024, Marzo 19). https://www.barrons.com/news/spanish/nicaragua-y-china-firman-acuerdos-para-cooperacion-espacial-0eab63c9

Pacto comercial entre China y Nicaragua entra en vigor| Voz de América (2024, Enero 02). https://www.vozdeamerica.com/a/entra-en-vigor-tratado-de-libre-comercio-de-china-con-nicaragua-/7421409.html

 Cooperación espacial China-América Latina – Actualización | Diálogo Chino (2024, Febrero 21). https://dialogo-americas.com/es/articles/cooperacion-espacial-china-america-latina-actualizacion/