China to promote space station application, manned lunar exploration in 2026: CMSA

China will further promote the application and development of the space station and the manned lunar exploration in 2026, said the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

At present, China's space station is operating steadily and functioning well, while research, development and construction efforts in the lunar landing phase are progressing smoothly with multiple breakthroughs achieved.

Since entering a stage of space station application and development, China has completed six manned space flights, four space cargo replenishments, and seven spacecraft return missions, as well as its first emergency launch mission, the CMSA said.

Six groups of astronauts, with each comprising three members, have stayed in orbit for a long time, and conducted 13 extravehicular activities and multiple payload extravehicular activities.

They have also carried out multiple extravehicular maintenance tasks, and set a new world record for the duration of a single extravehicular activity by astronauts.

China has also completed the selection of the fourth batch of preparatory astronauts, including payload experts from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Macao Special Administrative Region (Macao SAR), and initiated the development of a low-cost cargo transportation system.

China's space station has so far deployed and implemented 267 scientific and application projects in orbit, covering fields such as space life science and human research, microgravity physics, and new space technologies, according to the CMSA.

The projects have achieved internationally leading outcomes, with some of them having been promoted and applied, significantly promoting the development of China’s space science and applications.

In 2026, China plans to carry out two manned space missions and one space cargo replenishment mission, the CMSA said.

Astronauts from the HKSAR and the Macao SAR are expected to take part in space station missions as early as this year, and one astronaut of the Shenzhou-23 crew will conduct a one-year stay test.

To achieve the first crewed lunar landing by 2030, all the research and construction work for the manned lunar exploration program is advanced steadily, the CMSA said.

So far, the development of major facilities for the mission, including the Long March-10 carrier rocket, the Mengzhou manned spacecraft and the Lanyue lunar lander, has been progressing smoothly.

Meanwhile, a number of major tests on the facilities, such as the low-altitude demonstration and verification of the Long March-10 carrier rocket and the maximum dynamic pressure escape flight of the Mengzhou manned spacecraft, have been completed.

This year, efforts will be made to fully promote the construction of relevant supporting facilities and equipment for the moon landing mission at the Wenchang Space Launch Center, as well as the construction of ground support projects, such as the measurement and control system, the communication system, and the landing site, according to the CMSA.

China to promote space station application, manned lunar exploration in 2026: CMSA

China to promote space station application, manned lunar exploration in 2026: CMSA

China to promote space station application, manned lunar exploration in 2026: CMSA

China to promote space station application, manned lunar exploration in 2026: CMSA

China to promote space station application, manned lunar exploration in 2026: CMSA

Nepali Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal highlighted the importance of strengthening multilateral institutions when sharing his views on global governance in a recent interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN).

Khanal is on an official visit to China from Sunday to Wednesday at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Speaking with CGTN in Beijing, Khanal said China's Global Governance Initiative is important to sustaining multilateral engagement and strengthening existing multilateral institutions.

"The idea of global governance to my understanding is also around engagement - multilateral engagement, strengthening multilateral institution, ensuring rule-based orders are established. In principle, these ideas are important to Nepal. And as a country we've always engaged in establishing and being part of multilateral forums. Even in the UN we contribute, we are one of the highest peacekeeping contributors in the world. So from that perspective, we value these ideas, and we have been directly working on, for example, Global Development Initiative," he said.

During his meeting with Wang on Monday, Khanal said Nepal fully endorses the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity, and supports a series of global initiatives proposed by China.

"Some of these ideas, we are currently trying to understand and trying to find specific engagement areas. But in principle, the ideas expressed are something that we've always been part of. Nepal and China have engaged in several multilateral forums, whether it's the UN or the other forums in the international arena. So we hope to continuously engage in strengthening existing multilateral institutions like the UN. Of course, there is a need for reform in the United Nations itself. We do champion those ideas, and we hope to see meaningful reform in current international systems," said the Nepali foreign minister.

Nepali FM calls for strengthening multilateral institutions