This Day, That Year

Item from June 1, 1997, in China Daily: China Jiangnan Space Industry Co began to shift to civilian production in the late 1970s to offset declining military orders.

It has since developed more than 400 civilian products, accounting for 80 percent of the company's output.

China has been gradually increasing the integration of military and civilian industries, which means close partnership between the two through the sharing of technologies, manufacturing processes and equipment, personnel and facilities.