Ma Ying-jeou, former chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang party, visited the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Tuesday, at the head of a Taiwan youth delegation.
The launch center, located in a Gobi desert, is one of China's primary bases for launching satellites and manned spacecraft.
Accompanied by Song Tao, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, Ma and young Taiwan students first visited the site for the launch of Dongfanghong-1, the country's first man-made satellite which was sent into space in 1970. They visited the launch tower used for the first test launch of the Long March-2 rocket.
The Taiwan visitors also learned about the launch pad for the Shenzhou missions, and posed for photos with it.
Hsiao Hsu-tsen, executive director of the Ma Ying-jeou Culture and Education Foundation, said that the students were amazed by the mainland's space technology.
"The mainland's space technology has been at the forefront globally. Last year, Chang'e-6 probe touched down on the far side of the moon, marking a great feat of mankind. The students were all amazed and excited to see the launch pads with their own eyes today. Mr. Ma Ying-jeou once said that the Chinese nation is truly remarkable. We hope that both sides of the Taiwan Strait will embrace a future featuring peace and cooperation, especially in the mainland's advanced science and technology. We aspire for common growth and sharing with the mainland," said Hsiao.
The visit to the launch center is part of the delegation's tour of the mainland, running from June 14 to 27. It marks Ma's fourth visit to the mainland after leaving office.
The delegation has traveled through several cities along the Hexi Corridor in Gansu Province, including Tianshui, Wuwei and Jiayuguan, and will visit Dunhuang next.
Ma Ying-jeou visits Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
Ma Ying-jeou visits Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
