Wang Haoze, China's first female space engineer working in the country's space station, said she felt proud to contribute female data to the scientific experiment conducted in space at an interview with the China Central Television in Beijing.
As China's third woman astronaut, Wang participated in the six-month-long spaceflight mission of the Shenzhou-19 together with Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong.
The crew successfully conducted extravehicular activities, cargo delivery tasks and a number of experiments and tests in various fields during the mission from October 2024 to April 2025.
"My favorite work is the EEG test. I feel very proud. It means a lot to me because I contributed women's data to this experiment, making the database more complete. It makes me feel happy. It is a very special feeling," Wang said in the interview.
"While doing this experiment in space, we had to wear EEG hats which carry saline electrodes connected with our EEG equipment and our computers, which then could collect our brain signals," Wang said.
Wang said she witnessed the growth of a "fruit fly family" in the space mission. The fruit flies bred on the Chinese space station had returned to Earth aboard the Shenzhou-19 manned spacecraft in this April.
The specimens are expected to provide invaluable data for basic research into the mechanisms of biological magnetic sensing and gravity perception.
"We used the eggs of the previous generation of fruit flies to cultivate a new generation of the insect in the space station, so we had three generations of fruit flies in space. I may dislike this insect on earth, but I developed a bond with them after doing a dozen experiments on them in space for more than one month. I felt reluctant to leave them in my last experiment in space. Finally, we called Cai Xuzhe over, then the three of us had a photo taken together with the fruit fly culture in our hands," Wang said.
As part of the experiments, Wang and her fellow crew members planted lettuce in the space station and even harvested some lettuce leaves for food.
"We planted lettuce in the space station, which grew very well. Then we received the command from the earth that we could pick some of it for our food. I remember it very well that on the day of Winter Solstice, Song Lingdong and I used small scissors to collect some of the lettuce. We got a whole bag of it that day and then we began to eat, using it to wrap meat and ate it with dumplings. That was such an nice meal!" she said.
China's woman astronaut proud to contribute to space experiment
China's woman astronaut proud to contribute to space experiment
China's woman astronaut proud to contribute to space experiment
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday that UN Security Council actions must not provide legal cover for unauthorized military operations, nor should they heighten tensions or escalate conflict.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in a phone conversation with Kaja Kallas, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Commission.
Kallas shared her views on the situation in the Middle East and commended China's active diplomatic mediation efforts to ease the situation, including the latest five-point joint initiative issued by China and Pakistan for restoring peace and stability in the Gulf and the Middle East.
The European side has not been involved in this war but has suffered from its spillover effects, she said, expressing hope for swiftly de-escalating the war and resuming dialogue and negotiations.
The European side supports UN humanitarian operations, the protection of civilians and non-military targets, and will make every effort to ensure the opening of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, she said.
Wang said that amid the current international turmoil, it is the shared responsibility of China and Europe to step up communication and exchanges, and to uphold the UN-centered international system and the international order based on international law.
Wang elaborated on China's principled position on the Middle East situation, noting that the five-point initiative proposed by China and Pakistan reflects a broad international consensus, whose core elements include a cessation of hostilities, the start of peace talks as soon as possible, ensuring the security of non-military targets and security of shipping lanes, and safeguarding the primacy of the UN Charter.
A ceasefire and an end to hostilities are the strong call of the international community, and also the fundamental solution to ensuring safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, Wang said, adding that all parties should build greater consensus and create the necessary conditions to that end.
The UN Security Council actions should focus on cooling down the situation and de-escalating tensions, Wang said, adding that China stands ready to maintain communication and cooperation with the European side to promote an early end to hostilities and restore regional peace.
The two sides also exchanged views on China-EU relations. Wang said that China's development represents opportunities for Europe, and that the challenges Europe faces do not originate from China. Protectionism does not enhance competitiveness, and decoupling from China means decoupling from opportunities, Wang said, expressing hope that the European side will develop a comprehensive and objective perception of China and maintain the correct direction of China-EU relations.
Kallas said that the European side views China as an important cooperation partner, does not seek decoupling from China, and looks forward to maintaining dialogue and communication between the two sides.
Chinese FM says UN Security Council actions should not legitimize unauthorized military operations
