(Xinhua/Ju Peng)
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday encouraged personnel in China’s space industry to continue working tirelessly to accelerate progress in the space field.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, met with representatives of space scientists and engineers who participated in the research and development of the Chang’e-6 lunar mission at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Xi stressed that the achievements of the lunar exploration project embody the wisdom and hard work of several generations of Chinese aerospace workers, and demonstrate the remarkable achievements in scientific and technological self-reliance in recent years.
He urged promoting the spirit of lunar exploration, featuring “pursuing dreams, daring to explore, working together to overcome challenges and win-win cooperation”, so as to enhance the national confidence and pride of all Chinese people, as well as constitute a great force for comprehensively promoting the building of a strong country and realizing national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization.
The Chang’e-6 probe was launched on May 3, 2024. On June 25, its return module landed in northern China, bringing back 1,935.3 grams of samples from the far side of the Moon.
Xi noted that for the first time in human history, the Chang’e-6 probe has collected samples from the far side of the moon, marking a new historic achievement in China’s efforts in space as well as science and technology. It is a major milestone for China’s lunar exploration project.
Over the past 20 years, the lunar exploration project has focused on key technologies and achieved fruitful results in scientific discovery, technological innovation, engineering practice, achievement application and international cooperation. It has paved the way for high-quality and cost-effective lunar exploration, making important contributions to the development of China’s space industry and human space exploration, he said.
He pointed out that in the past 75 years since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the country’s space industry has transformed from weak to strong, and achieved historical, high-quality and pioneering development.
Xi stressed that outer space is a shared domain of mankind and space exploration is the common cause of mankind. The lunar exploration project has always followed the principles of equality, mutual benefit, peaceful utilization and win-win cooperation.
The Chang’e lunar missions, which belong to both China and all the people of the world, have provided a broad stage for international scientific and technological cooperation, and contributed China’s wisdom and strength to the world’s exploration of deep space, he noted.
He called on participants to keep an open mind, deepen various forms of international exchange and cooperation in the space field, share development achievements with other countries, improve outer space governance, and make achievements in space science and technology more beneficial to all people.
Stressing that space exploration has no end, Xi encouraged aerospace workers to conduct elaborate scientific research on lunar samples, continue major space projects and promote the overall development of space science, technology and applications.
Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi, all members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, also attended the event.
Xi and other leaders also viewed lunar samples and an exhibition on 20 years of achievements of the lunar exploration project.
(Xinhua/Yao Dawei)
(Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)
(Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)
