A pamphlet containing a speech by President Hu Jintao about China's first space walk was released nationwide on Saturday.

Hu delivered the speech at a conference on Friday.

The pamphlet was published by the People's Press.

Hu presented three astronauts -- Zhai Zhigang, Liu Boming and Jing Haipeng -- with medals and certificates commemorating their outstanding performance during the spacewalk, which was conducted during the Shenzhou VII flight late in September.

Hu said it was a small step for a Chinese astronaut but a big step for the nation's scientific and technological innovation.

He said the successful spacewalk was a milestone in the country's space history and a major achievement in building an innovative nation.

China became the third country in the world to complete a spacewalk on Sept. 25.

(Xinhua News Agency November 9, 2008)