Astronauts of China's Shenzhou-21 space mission meet press

Zhang Lu, Wu Fei, and Zhang Hongzhang, the three Chinese astronauts for the upcoming Shenzhou-21 spaceflight mission, met the press on Thursday.

The Shenzhou-21 crewed spaceship is scheduled to be launched at 23:44 Friday (Beijing Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced at a press briefing earlier in the day.

The three astronauts will take over control of China's Tiangong space station from the Shenzhou-20 crew currently in orbit.

Preparations for the Shenzhou-21 crewed mission are progressing steadily. The Long March-2F Y21 carrier rocket, which will be used for the launch, is going to be filled with propellant, according to the press briefing.

Astronauts of China's Shenzhou-21 space mission meet press

Astronauts of China's Shenzhou-21 space mission meet press

Astronauts of China's Shenzhou-21 space mission meet press

China firmly supports Cuba in safeguarding national sovereignty and security, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian at a regular press briefing in Beijing on Tuesday.

He made the remarks in response to a media query about Cuba's ongoing fuel shortage crisis, which is expected to last until March 11 and has led to the suspension of international flights to the Caribbean nation.

"So far we have not received any report of Chinese citizens stranded in Cuba. China firmly supports Cuba in safeguarding national sovereignty and security and opposing external interference. China stands firmly against the inhumane actions that deprive the Cuban people of their right to subsistence and development. China will, as always, do our best to provide support and assistance to Cuba," said Lin.

China firmly supports Cuba in safeguarding national sovereignty, security: FM spokesman