China Ready to Cooperate in Space Programs

China’s top space official says his country is willing to cooperate with the United States and Japan in space programs on finding resources.

During a Beijing briefing Wednesday concerning China’s geo-space exploration program with Europe, Sun Laiyan, director of the China National Space Administration, said China hopes to cooperate with nations who have space exploration programs, China’s official Xinhua reported.

He denied Western media’s reports that China has military ambitions in its space programs. He said China is already working with other countries on space projects.

China plans to launch its second manned space flight next year and a fly-by lunar satellite by 2007.