China will strengthen collaboration with international partners in deep space exploration, said the China National Space Administration (CNSA) who released the lists of scientists authorized to join its lunar research as well as the invitation for its Mars sample-return mission on Thursday.
At a ceremony for Space Day of China held in Shanghai on Thursday, CNSA announced the results for loan of lunar samples returned by China's Chang'e-5 mission. A total of seven institutions from six countries gained the access. Five of them signed the loan agreement on site.
In addition, 10 moon exploration related projects were selected as the collaborative programs for Chang'e-8 mission.
"The event mainly focused on the distribution of samples from Chang'e-5 mission to international applicants. [Previously,] we invited experts to conduct a series of screenings on applications regarding their experimental schemes' scientificity and advanced level. Approved research and development institutions are able to gain the access to Chinese lunar samples. Currently, researches on lunar samples have entered a 'Chang'e era'," said Guan Feng, director of China National Space Administration’s Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Center.
Meanwhile, CNSA announced opportunities for international cooperation on the Tianwen-3 Mars sample-return mission, inviting global partners to jointly advance Mars exploration and research, thereby expanding humanity's understanding of the red planet.
The agency also added that the Tianwen-3 spacecraft will allocate 20 kilograms of resources for international collaboration.
"Tianwen-3 is mainly for collecting samples from Mars and returning them to the earth. In this mission, we also hope to go to Mars with our international colleagues, conducting some macroscopic and large-scale scientific explorations," Guan said.
The Tianwen-3 spacecraft comprises a lander, an ascent vehicle, a service module, an orbiter and a return module, and it is equipped with six scientific payloads.
The spacecraft is expected to be launched around the year of 2028.
China strengthens int'l cooperation on space exploration via Moon, Mars missions
China strengthens int'l cooperation on space exploration via Moon, Mars missions
Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday that China stands ready to work with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to continue consolidating the positive momentum in the development of China-DPRK relations.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in talks with DPRK Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui in Pyongyang.
Wang said that in early September last year, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), held a historic meeting in Beijing, reaching important consensus on the overall, strategic and directional issues concerning bilateral ties.
The meeting provides important strategic guidance for further developing China-DPRK relations, pushes bilateral ties into a new stage and opens a new chapter in friendly exchanges between the two countries, which is of great and far-reaching significance, Wang added.
Wang said China stands ready to work with the DPRK to take the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and countries as fundamental guidance, strengthen strategic communication, enhance exchanges and cooperation, create more benefits for the two peoples, and jointly promote regional peace and development.
The past year has witnessed a series of highlights in China-DPRK exchanges, which strongly demonstrated that the two countries' traditional friendship forged in blood remains everlasting and unbreakable, Wang said, noting that this year marks the 65th anniversary of the signing of the China-DPRK Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance.
Over the past 65 years, Wang said, no matter how the international and regional situations have changed, China and the DPRK, as good neighbors, good friends and good comrades, have always trusted and supported each other, making unremitting efforts to maintain regional and world peace and stability and promote their respective development.
Wang said China is willing to work with the DPRK side to hold commemorative events for the 65th anniversary of the signing of the treaty, strengthen high-level exchanges, enhance dialogue and practical cooperation at all levels and in various fields, deepen people-to-people exchanges and mutual understanding, and contribute to respective economic and social development.
For her part, Choe said that the DPRK-China friendship is based on the common socialist system and traditional friendship, describing bilateral relations as deep-rooted, solid and sustainable. It is the unwavering position of the WPK and the nation to advance DPRK-China friendship and cooperation following the trend of the times and the will of the two peoples.
Choe noted that the historic and successful meeting between the top leaders of the two parties and countries in September last year has significantly enhanced friendship and mutual trust between the two parties and two countries, pointed out a clear direction for and injecting strong impetus into the development of bilateral ties.
The DPRK, Choe said, fully supports the one-China principle, firmly opposes any interference in China's internal affairs, and resolutely supports China's position on safeguarding sovereignty and territorial integrity concerning Taiwan, Xizang, Xinjiang, and other issues of China's core interests.
Choe said that the DPRK side fully endorses the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity and the four global initiatives proposed by Xi, and highly values China's just position on and important role in international and regional affairs.
Choe said that the DPRK stands ready to work with China to implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and countries, hold commemorative events marking the 65th anniversary of the signing of the DPRK-China Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, expand exchanges and practical cooperation across various fields, enhance coordination between diplomatic departments, strengthen multilateral communication and collaboration, and continue to make efforts to lift DPRK-China relations to higher levels and open up new prospects.
The two sides also had an in-depth exchange of views on current international and regional issues.
Chinese FM says China to work with DPRK to consolidate positive momentum of ties
