As preparations for the upcoming Shenzhou-20 manned space mission enter their final stage, Chinese aerospace professionals at the Xi'an Satellite Control Center are working diligently, refining every step and detail to ensure the success of the mission.
Located in Xi’an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, the control center manages everything from flight trajectory design and software engineering to command and control.
At the Qingdao telemetry, tracking and command (TT&C) station, a branch of Xi'an Satellite Control Center located in east China's Qingdao City, Shandong Province, senior engineer Zhang Zhuo and her colleagues were working on joint system debugging as they prepared for the launch of the Shenzhou-20 mission.
Zhang, a 23-year veteran, has developed a routine of writing down detailed notes while working, which helps her remember important information and provides guidance when she encounters technical problems.
"Taking work notes comes naturally to me, just like breathing, eating, and drinking," said Zhang.
Zhao Dan, as the first female operator at the Xi'an Satellite Control Center has constantly enhanced her professionalism through overcoming challenges in her work.
"Becoming a Huashan (code name for Xi'an Satellite Control Center) operator is both an acknowledgment of my abilities and a source of motivation. As space TT&C tasks intensify, the challenges ahead will also grow greater," said Zhao.
In addition to Zhang and Zhao, there are many other dedicated aerospace professionals who have been working diligently and contributing to the progress of China's space program.
"In my work, the mouse and keyboard are like the needles for an embroiderer, while some of the algorithms and codes I write are like the techniques used by the embroiderer. We hope to carry forward this spirit of craftsmanship, creating a map of China's space orbits in the vast expanse of the universe," said Wang Lusha, an aerospace worker at the center.
Chinese aerospace professionals committed to ensuring mission success
Tanzania and China have committed to synergizing the implementation of development strategies to boost common development, according to a joint press communique released on Saturday.
The communique was issued after talks between the foreign ministers of Tanzania and China in Dar es Salaam. Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and foreign minister, visited Tanzania on Friday and Saturday, during which he met with his counterpart, Mahmoud Thabit Kombo.
The two ministers spoke highly of the traditional friendship between China and Tanzania, which is built on trust and mutual respect, said the communique.
Noting with satisfaction the fruitful outcomes of China-Tanzania relations and friendly cooperation over the past six decades, they are committed to the practical implementation of the consensus reached by the two heads of state to further elevate the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership to new heights.
China reiterated its full confidence in Tanzania's leadership and institutions to manage internal affairs independently, the communique said, while Tanzania reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to supporting the one-China principle and reiterated its consistent position of recognizing that there is but one China in the world and respecting China's national unity and territorial integrity, underscoring that any form of secession is unacceptable.
The two countries have committed to synergizing the implementation of development strategies, agreed to further expand two-way investment and trade, and reaffirmed their commitment to further fostering a fair and enabling business environment on both sides.
The two sides agreed to jointly host activities related to the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges and to expand cooperation in areas such as culture, tourism, education, public health, sports, youths, think tanks and media, so as to solidify public support for China-Tanzania friendship, the communique said.
Stressing that the two countries welcomed the smooth commencement of the TAZARA Railway revitalization project and expressed their readiness to support its implementation, the communique said that the two sides are exploring the possibility of organizing a high-level TAZARA Railway Prosperity Belt meeting in the near future.
China, Tanzania pledge to align development strategies
