China issues white paper on space exploration

BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday issued a white paper on the development of space industry since 2006 and the major tasks for the next five years.

The white paper titled "China's Space Activities in 2011" was the third white paper on the country's space activities issued by the State Council Information Office, following the one in 2000 and another in 2006.

The Chinese government has made the space industry an important part of the nation's overall development strategy and adhered to exploration and utilization of outer space for peaceful purposes, the white paper said.

Over the past few years, China has ranked among the world's leading countries in certain major areas of space technology, it said, adding that in the next five years, there will be new opportunities to the country's space industry.

At the same time, China will work together with the international community to maintain a peaceful and clean outer space and endeavor to promote world peace and development, the document said.