President Jiang Calls for New Victories in Space, Defense Technologies

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, March 27, 2002

President Jiang Calls for New Victories in Space, Defense Technologies

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Chinese President Jiang Zemin Tuesday inspected the Jiuquan satellite launch center in northwest China's Gansu Province, where he watched the successful launch of the country's third unmanned spacecraft Monday night.

Accompanied by Vice-Premier Wu Bangguo and other senior Party and military officials, Jiang met with officers and engineers engaged in the country's manned spaceflight project, shaking handsand being photographed with them.

Previous Two Unmanned Spaceships

On January 10, 2001, China launched the second unmanned spaceship "Shenzhou II" which was basically identical to a manned craft. Scientists designed space life sciences, space materials, space astronomy and space physics experiments under conditions of microgravity in outer space. In Detail

The first experimental spacecraft "Shenzhou" was launched by "Long March" carrier rocket at 6:30 a.m. on November 20, 1999 and touched down in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 3:41 a.m. the next day. Chinese technologists for the first time assembled and tested the rocket and spaceship in a vertical way. In Detail

In November, 1999, Chinese President Jiang Zemin wrote the inscription "Shenzhou" for the country's first test spacecraft which successfully completed its flight.

He said the successful launch of the "Shenzhen III" spacecraft has greatly boosted the whole nation's morale, signifies an significant improvement in China's high-tech level and indicates an increase in national strength.

"This shows that the Chinese people are perfectly capable of understanding the most advanced technologies by making their own innovations and can be part of the high-tech world," Jiang said.

He paid tribute to the officers and engineers at the Jiuquan satellite launch center, saying that they have made strenuous efforts and important contributions to China's space industry and military modernization, and their deeds will be not be forgotten by history and the Chinese people.

The president pointed out that China's manned spaceflight is just the first step, and there will be many challenges to be facedin the future as China moves on to building its own space labs andmanned space stations.

He called on those engaged in the space industry to be united as one and try their best to secure new victories in the manned spaceflight project as well as in the whole space industry and in defense technology.

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