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China Calls for Cooperation With US, Japan in Space Programs:Official

Posted on: Thursday, 12 August 2004, 06:00 CDT

China calls for cooperation with US, Japan in space programs: official

BEIJING, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- A top Chinese space official said China is willing to cooperate with the United States and Japan in space programs on exploration and finding resources.

During a briefing on China's geospace exploration program in cooperation with Europe, Sun Laiyan, director of the China National Space Administration, said China hopes to cooperate with nations who have space exploration programs.

He denied Western media's reports that China has military ambitions in its space programs.

China is already working with other countries on space projects. For example, China is developing three of the eight small satellites for the world's first planned constellation of eight man-made satellites. Sun said his administration and European Space Agency have agreed to increase cooperation in space science programs following smooth development of "Double Star Program."

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

In 2003, Chinese astronaut Yang Liwei landed safely on earth on Oct. 16 aboard the Shenzhou-5 after orbiting the Earth 14 times on the 21 hour mission, making China the third country after Russia and the United States able to put people in space.

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