Yang Liwei, China’s first astronaut and deputy chief designer of the China Manned Space Agency, says the country’s space station will become a global research platform for scientists worldwide.
Yang made the remarks at the ongoing 77th International Astronautical Congress in Turkiye’s Mediterranean city of Antalya, noting that China hopes to actively engage in exchanges and seek cooperation with other countries in areas such as scientific research, astronaut training, providing flight opportunities, and science education.
According to Yang, the two Pakistani astronaut candidates, who are currently undergoing training with their Chinese counterparts, have performed exceptionally well throughout the training process.
Yang said the Chinese space station will welcome its first foreign astronaut on board in the second half of this year, during which one Pakistani astronaut will carry out a short-duration flight mission as a payload specialist.
Regarding China’s crewed lunar landing program, Yang said China looks forward to greater cooperation and exchanges with other countries and welcomes all parties to participate in the construction of an international lunar scientific research station.
Jinlin Chen, founder and CEO of Beijing-based space technology company Final Frontier, said China’s commercial aerospace industry had developed rapidly over the past decade.
“Aerospace in China’s private sector has gone from zero to one,” Chen said, citing reusable rocket progress as a key milestone that could lower launch costs and enable wider deployment of affordable satellites.
Final Frontier is developing next-generation computing satellites, seeking to apply advances in semiconductor design and manufacturing to space technology.
“We are happy to work with Turkish companies on any fronts,” Chen said, adding that discussions with potential customers and partners had already begun during the congress.
The growing Chinese presence at the event has attracted attention from Turkiye’s space authorities, the host nation who also harbours lunar and space ambitions.
Yusuf Kirac, head of the Turkish Space Agency, hailed the participation of Chinese institutions and companies at the congress.
“We have very good relations with China, and we are working closely with our Chinese partners,” Kirac said. — Xinhua
