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China's First Manned Spacecraft Scheduled
China is expected to launch its first manned spaceship in the early 21st century.
That's according to Luan Enjie, deputy director of the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence.
Luan said Monday that the country has made technological breakthroughs since the successful launch of the Shenzhou unmanned spaceship last year.
China will establish space stations after launching its manned spaceship to explore outer space in the coming years for the benefit of mankind, Luan said.
"The country's first generation of astronauts are now receiving intensive training," Luan said.
China will launch several unmanned spaceships in the near future in order to get more experience and further improve aerospace technology, Luan added. The nation will also seek to co-operate further with Western countries, including the United States and Russia, on the basis of mutual benefit.
China attaches great importance to regional space co-operation in the Asia Pacific area and supports space co-operation in other areas.
Luan said the Chinese Government is encouraging domestic space companies to get involved in launching satellites for other countries.
Meanwhile, the government will continue to fully support the development of the aerospace industry in the coming years, Luan said.
"This will beef up technical infrastructure construction for the development of space technology and space science," he said.
China will encourage market-orientated operations and multi-channel financing of firms to take full advantage of the industry and optimize the division of labour.
Space enterprises are also expected to carry out research to promote the application of technology in manufacturing.
"China has already made a positive contribution to the world aerospace industry in the fields of technology, application and sciences," Luan said.
The country has launched 47 satellites since the successful launch of the first Chinese satellite - the Dongfanghong-1 - in 1970.
Satellites are now used for many things including communications and collecting meteorological data. China has successfully developed 12 types of launching vehicles which have made 63 launches with a 90 per cent success rate, he said.
The "Long March" brand of vehicles made 21 consecutive successful launches between October 1996 and October 2000.
Since 1985 China has successfully launched 27 satellites for countries including Pakistan, Australia, Sweden, the United States, the Philippines and Brazil.
Meanwhile, the 3rd China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition opened Monday in Zhuhai in southern China, offering plenty of business and co-operative opportunities for both domestic and overseas aerospace companies.
Li Peng, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, cut the ribbon to officially start the event, which is held here every two years.
Accompanying Li at the opening ceremony were Li Changchun, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Ma Man-kei, vice- chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, Edmund Ho Hou-wah, the chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region, and Guangdong Governor Lu Ruihua.
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