"China is actively gearing up international cooperation in the field of manned space," Zhang told reporters on the sidelines of China's parliament annual session, citing the agreement with Europe as an example. The country plans to launch the Shenzhou-8 and Shenzhou-9 spacecraft in 2011, a former chief designer of the manned-space project said a day earlier. Zhang stressed China welcomes and will continue cooperation with other countries in exploring the space, adding the country's space endeavors are always open to the outside. "China will definitely work with the International Space Station, once the country sets up its own space station," said Zhang, a deputy to the National People's Congress (NPC), the country's top legislature. He said it's necessary for astronauts to be able to offer mutual aid in case of emergency during their relatively long stay in the space. Zhang also said the country is selecting taikonauts for the country's planned first space station.
Satnews Daily
March 10th, 2009
ESA + China Agree To Bio Sample Space Transportation
"China is actively gearing up international cooperation in the field of manned space," Zhang told reporters on the sidelines of China's parliament annual session, citing the agreement with Europe as an example. The country plans to launch the Shenzhou-8 and Shenzhou-9 spacecraft in 2011, a former chief designer of the manned-space project said a day earlier. Zhang stressed China welcomes and will continue cooperation with other countries in exploring the space, adding the country's space endeavors are always open to the outside. "China will definitely work with the International Space Station, once the country sets up its own space station," said Zhang, a deputy to the National People's Congress (NPC), the country's top legislature. He said it's necessary for astronauts to be able to offer mutual aid in case of emergency during their relatively long stay in the space. Zhang also said the country is selecting taikonauts for the country's planned first space station.