The Hangzhou municipal government in East China's Zhejiang province signs a cooperation agreement with the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) on July 25. [Photo/WeChat account: Hangzhou Fabu]

The Hangzhou municipal government in East China's Zhejiang province reached a cooperation agreement with the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) on July 25 to jointly build a Hangzhou center for the academy, local media reported.

The Hangzhou center is one of the three major regional strategic layouts for CAST, in addition to the Beijing headquarters.

According to the agreement, the center is intended to become a nationally-leading application and service platform of space information and an industrial cluster for cutting-edge technologies.

It will include seven aerospace R&D institutions and a base for R&D and the integration of intelligent equipment.

Zhou Jiangyong, Party secretary of Hangzhou, said that space technology is crucial to the overall development of science and technology. He also emphasized Hangzhou's strength in the information industry.

He hopes that the benefits brought by the CAST center, when combined with the strength of Hangzhou enterprises in commercializing scientific research achievements, will contribute to the development of Hangzhou.

Hangzhou will prioritize the construction of the center and create a sound working and living environment for high-caliber talents, Zhou said.

Founded in 1968, CAST is the primary spacecraft development and production academy in China.