China closes 2025 with record 92 space launches

China closed 2025 with a record of 92 space launches and major breakthroughs were made in manned space launches, deep space exploration and commercial launches, according to the China National Space Administration.

"In 2025, we created a new launch record, sending more than 300 satellites into planned orbits. Both the number of launches and the number of payloads placed in orbit have achieved qualitative leapfrog development," said Zhu Haiyang, an engineer with the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

In 2025, the Shenzhou-20 crew spent 204 days in orbit, setting a new record for the longest single mission duration in the history of China's manned space program. Following the Shenzhou-20, the Shenzhou-21 achieved the fastest rendezvous and docking in the history of the Shenzhou mission in just three hours and a half.

Facing an unexpected technical situation with the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft, China immediately activated emergency plans. Within 16 days, a series of maneuvers were accomplished including the launch of the Shenzhou-22 backup vehicle, presenting a "textbook model" for the international space community in effectively responding to unexpected emergencies.

In deep space exploration, the Tianwen-2 probe embarked on its journey for China's first asteroid exploration and sample-return mission in 2025.

Last year also saw intensive launch activities from multiple commercial rocket types, injecting strong momentum into the country's commercial space development.

As China has kicked off the first year of its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030), a new blueprint for the country's space program is unfolding. Multiple tests are planned in preparation for future lunar exploration, as Chang'e-7 lunar probe is scheduled to be launched for the lunar south pole to search for evidence of water ice. The industry is also preparing for the maiden flights of several new rocket types, which will include the challenges to test rocket recovery and reusability technologies.

China closes 2025 with record 92 space launches

China closes 2025 with record 92 space launches

Hailing China as a global leader in renewable energy, President of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Lee Jae Myung has expressed his strong optimism that deepening cooperation with China in the area will unlock abundant opportunities for his country.

In an interview with the China Media Group in Seoul, capital of the ROK, ahead of his upcoming state visit to China from Jan 4 to 7, Lee highlighted China's remarkable progress in clean energy and technological innovation.

He recalled his previous visits to China during his tenures as the mayor of Seongnam and later as the governor of Gyeonggi Province, when he toured Chinese cities including Chongqing and Dalian. Even then, he spoke highly of China's robust innovation capacity and commitment to high-quality development.

"I have visited China from time to time and witnessed its rapid development. It was almost a completely different country each time I went. China has rapidly transitioned to renewable energy, and it is now a global leader in the renewable energy industry, especially in solar energy," said Lee.

"China possesses truly outstanding capabilities to identify opportunities amid crises and focus national capacities on them to develop new technologies and drive industrial growth. This trend is likely to continue for quite a long period of time, and I anticipate that the cooperative relationship between the ROK and China will open up abundant opportunities for the ROK in this regard," he said.

It will be Lee's first visit to China since taking office in June 2025, and also the first visit to the country by an ROK president since 2019.

It will also marks that the two heads of state have exchanged visits within two months as Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to the ROK from Oct 30 to Nov 1, 2025.

Deepening cooperation with China to unlock abundant opportunities for ROK: president