China has been carrying out a space program for peace and in accordance with its own time-table, said Wang Yongzhi, chief designer of the country's manned space program, on Tuesday when China announced the launching of the second manned spacecraft Shenzhou-6.

"It is our prime goal to probe into the secrets of space and explore and utilize resources," Wang told Xinhua in an interview at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.

He insisted that China has developed its space program according to its won demand and realities, with an aim to explore space resources for the benefit of mankind.

Being a responsible big country, China has undertaken the space program for scientific and technological progress, so that mankind could make better use of space resources for peaceful purposes, said Xu Dazhe, deputy general manager of the China Space and Technology Group.

According to Xu, two Chinese astronauts will be on board Shenzhou-6 and conduct a number of laboratory tests during the space voyage, including research work for the later phase of the country's manned space program.

"We are willing to cooperate with other countries in conducting research activities and exploring space resources for the benefit of mankind," he said.

Currently, the life of the Chinese people has been closely connected with the use of space resources as space technology has been widely applied to weather forecast, telecommunications, disaster control, and inspection of resources, Xu noted.

Worldwide, manned space activities have play a role in the research into materials, medicine and life science, which are sure to bring about increasing benefits to people on the Earth, he said.

China launched its first manned space vehicle Shenzhou-5 two years ago, becoming the third nation in the world to be capable of sending a human into orbit.

(Xinhua News Agency October 12, 2005)