China issues white paper on space activities

Xinhua 2016-12-27

BEIJING — China on Dec 27 issued a white paper on its space activities in 2016 and major tasks for the next five years.

The white paper, titled “China’s Space Activities in 2016,” said that China always adheres to the principle of exploration and utilization of outer space for peaceful purposes.

The white paper was issued by the State Council Information Office.

The government takes the space industry as an important part of the nation’s overall development strategy, and China has made great achievements since its space industry was established in 1956, it said.

Since 2011, China has seen smooth implementation of major projects, including manned spaceflight, lunar exploration, the Beidou Navigation System and high-resolution earth observation system, it said.

According to the white paper, in the next five years, China will continue to enhance the basic capacities of its space industry, and strengthen research into key and cutting-edge technologies.

China will also implement manned spaceflight, lunar exploration, the Beidou Navigation Satellite System, high-resolution earth observation system, new-generation launch vehicles and other important projects.

The government holds that all countries in the world have equal rights to peacefully explore, develop and utilize outer space and its celestial bodies, the white paper said.

All countries’ outer space activities should be beneficial to their economic development and social progress, and to the peace, security, survival and development of mankind, it added.