On October 12, the Information Office of the State Council published a white paper entitled China's Space Activities in 2006 to follow the first paper published on November 22, 2000.

Sun Laiyan, Director of China's State Space Administration, Hou Shenyuan and Zhu Yilin, researchers at the Chinese Academy of Space Technology, spoke to Xinhua News Agency and People's Daily with focus on the highlights of China's space program.

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Quote: China's space industry has made great progress since the Chinese Government issued the white paper China's Space Activities in 2000.

Expert: The latest white paper introduces the aims and basic principles of space development in China, provides an overview of progress made in the last five years, outlines development targets and major tasks for the future period of time, explains development policies and measures, and reiterates China's commitment to utilize outer space for peaceful purposes.

The new white paper signals increasing transparency in China's space activities. The Chinese Government will adopt more flexible, active and open policies, as well as strengthen international cooperation and exchanges. In light of the actual situation and new goals, the white paper plays a significant role in pushing China's space program forward.

Leapfrogging Development

Quote: China considers the development of its space industry as a strategic way to enhance its economic, scientific, technological and national defense strength, as well as a cohesive force for the unity of the Chinese people, in order to rejuvenate China. Since the space industry is an important part of the national overall development strategy, China will maintain long-term, stable development in this field.

Expert: Unlike the first white paper, the latest one outlines considerations for the development of China's space industry, a strategic way to enhance its economic, scientific, technological and national defense strength as well as a cohesive force for the unity of the Chinese people. “Leapfrogging development” has also been proposed for the first time. In summary, China will give priority to the development of its space program, will be more confident and will develop its space industry faster and better.

Emphasizing Independent Innovation

Quote: When developing the space industry, China will follow the principles guiding the development of the country's scientific and technological programs, namely, making innovations independently, making leapfrogging development in key areas, shoring up the economy and leading future trends. In the new development stage, the principles of development for China's space industry are as follows: Maintaining and serving the country's overall development strategy, and meeting the needs of the state and reflecting its will; upholding independence and self-reliance policy, making innovations independently and realizing leapfrogging development…

Expert: Although China has made remarkable progress in its space program, it still lags behind developed countries. The key to narrowing the gap lies in increasing its capacity for independent innovation. The white paper puts more emphasis on it and will maintain the principles that govern the space program.

Serving the People

Quote: Development targets: To achieve the initial transformation of applied satellites and satellite application from experimental application type to operational service type.

Expert: China has focused on developing experimental satellites. In the future, China will improve satellite application efficiency and place more emphases on applied satellites. Meteorological satellites like the Fengyun series have played an important role in weather forecasting. More and more people and industries will benefit from homemade satellites. China has set five development targets for its space program in the next five years, which include building a coordinated and complete national satellite remote-sensing application system, setting up a relatively complete satellite telecom-munications and broadcasting system, and establishing a satellite navigation and positioning system to better meet the needs of the people.

Prioritizing Internal Space Initiatives

Quote: The major policies and measures for China's space industry at present and in the near future are to make overall plans for and deploy rationally space activities; to give priority to the development of applied satellites and satellite applications, develop in a proper way manned spaceflight and deep-space exploration, and give active support to space science exploration…

Expert: China has for the first time ranked the importance of various space projects including applied satellites, manned space flights, deep-space exploration and space science. The Chinese Government is increasingly clear about the development of space activities. Applied satellites and satellite application will be at the top of the agenda for China's space program.

Improving Space Technology

Quote: To muster strength in implementing key space scientific and technological projects, strengthen basic research and make plans for frontier technologies in advance.

Expert: Implementing key scientific and technological projects, improving the overall level of China's space technology and leapfrogging development have not only been a part of China's plan over the last 50 years, but are also major channels for its space development. China will devote more to its space program. More than 10 major goals are outlined in the white paper, which lays the foundation for the next five years. China is confident in reaching all its space development goals.

(China.org.cn)