Chinese astronaut to blast off into space for 3rd time

Astronaut Chen Dong has readied himself for his third spaceflight as the commander of the Shenzhou-20 crewed spaceflight mission, expecting to comprehensively enhance his capabilities through this flight.

The Shenzhou-20 crewed spaceship is scheduled to be launched at 17:17 Thursday (Beijing Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, according to the China Manned Space Agency on Wednesday.

Chinese astronauts Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie will carry out the Shenzhou-20 crewed spaceflight mission, with Chen Dong as the commander.

Chen Dong, who once served as the Shenzhou-14 mission commander and participated in the Shenzhou-11 crewed spaceflight mission, was the first Chinese astronaut to spend more than 200 days in space and witnessed the technological leap forward in China's manned space program.

To ensure the smooth execution of the Shenzhou-20 crewed spaceflight mission, Chen Dong has carried out comprehensive and systematic training with his crew members at the China Astronaut Research and Training Center in Beijing. Despite having completed two previous space missions and participated in three extravehicular activities, the experienced astronaut still takes every training session seriously, completing them meticulously.

"The third flight mission requires me to enhance my capabilities comprehensively. Given that the space station consistently operates in a three-module configuration, the system is highly sophisticated. Therefore, the expectations I set for myself are different from those during my previous missions. During the Shenzhou-14 mission, I worked alongside colleagues from my training batch, all with extensive ground simulation experience. This time, however, I will lead new team members from the third batch of astronauts. So, I feel an increased sense of responsibility and pressure," he said.

Chen further emphasized that after the completion of the space station, as experimental projects continue to expand, higher requirements are also set for training.

"During the Shenzhou-14 mission, we were more involved in construction, and so conducted relatively few experiments. But now, there are numerous experimental projects, and the technological content is extremely high. This requires us to operate with greater precision and demands that we master the corresponding theoretical knowledge. Moreover, with the upgrading of the space station, we need to constantly update our database to keep up with its rapid development," he explained.

In addition to individual training, crew integration is also critical to ensuring the success of the mission. As the commander, Chen Dong has undergone a long period of coordination with crew members to cultivate tacit cooperation and establish a highly efficient collaborative framework.

According to the mission schedule, during the in-orbit period, the Shenzhou-20 crew will conduct space science and application experiments and tests in fields such as space life and human research, microgravity physical science, and space new technology. They will also use the node module of the Tiangong core module again for multiple extravehicular activities.

"It has put forward a higher requirement for our preparations. The space of the node module is relatively small, and there are many devices. It has also been out of use for a long time. Therefore, we have made a lot of preparations on the ground," explained Chen.

As he is set to return to the Chinese space station, Chen Dong anticipates achieving new breakthroughs.

"This will mark my third space mission. For me, space is like an old friend. I'm looking forward to meeting this old friend again, to embracing the universe once again in my spacesuit, and to conducting a variety of experiments and operations that remain unexplored by me thus far. At present, China's achievements in space exploration are flourishing across multiple domains. We have successfully established a space station, embarked on lunar exploration missions, conducted Mars exploration, and are planning for future manned lunar landings. I often say that our national flag is up there on the space station. It is my hope that the red symbolizing China's presence in space remains bright, enduring, and radiant," said he.

Chinese astronaut to blast off into space for 3rd time

China on Thursday launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP), the world's largest FTP by area, in an effort to boost the country's high-level opening up, said a China Media Group (CMG) commentary published on Thursday.

An adapted English version of the commentary is as follows:

The Hainan Free Trade Port has officially commenced island-wide special customs operations, marking a significant step forward in its goal to become "a pivotal gateway leading China's opening-up in the new era."

The special customs operations of the Hainan Free Trade Port will not only contribute to China's efforts to foster a new development paradigm but also emerge as a new focal point for global shared development opportunities.

This island-wide special customs operations represent another significant milestone in China's reform and opening-up process. It serves as a landmark measure demonstrating China's unwavering commitment to expanding high-level opening-up and promoting the development of an open global economy.

According to Sang Baichuan, dean of the Institute of International Economics at the University of International Business and Economics, following the special customs operations, the "changes" are primarily reflected in the further enhancement of trade and investment liberalization and facilitation. The number of "zero-tariff" goods, as well as the variety of imported commodities, has significantly increased, leading to a substantial reduction in import costs. This will generate immense appeal for investors from various countries. What remains "unchanged" is China's continued commitment to expanding high-level opening-up and its determination and capability to foster mutual benefit and shared prosperity with the world.

For enterprises, a series of measures such as "zero tariffs, low tax rates, and simplified tax systems" means broader scope for benefiting from preferential policies and lower production costs.

Companies registered in Hainan and meeting relevant requirements will pay a corporate income tax rate of just 15 percent through 2027. Meanwhile, the list of duty-free goods has expanded from about 1,900 to 6,600 items, raising coverage from 21 percent to 74 percent of all tariff lines.

For tourists from around the world, the island-wide special customs operations in Hainan also brings numerous benefits.

Currently, the combination of duty-free policies and travel facilitation measures, such as visa-free entry for citizens from 86 countries, is positioning Hainan as an international hub for consumption and tourism.

The launch of the island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port is expected to inject new momentum into economic globalization.

Located at a strategic crossroads linking the Pacific and Indian oceans, Hainan offers investors a platform to "base in Hainan, access entire China, and reach the Asia-Pacific," supporting both regional and global economic growth.

For Hainan, the island-wide customs operation represents a new starting point.

Looking ahead, the free trade port is expected to further expand opening-up, refine its policy and institutional framework, and develop into a key hub connecting China's domestic and international dual circulation.

Hainan's island-wide customs operations to boost China's high-level opening: commentary