BEIJING, Sep 27: Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered an important speech on the morning of September 23 in the Great Hall of the People when he met with representatives of the research and testing personnel who participated in the Chang’e-6 lunar exploration mission. Xi noted that the accomplishments of the lunar exploration project encapsulate the wisdom and endeavors of several generations of Chinese aerospace personnel. This illustrates the remarkable progress the nation has made in scientific and technological self-reliance over the years, fully showcasing the aspirations, determination, and confidence of the Chinese people. He stressed the need to vigorously carry forward in the entire society the spirit of lunar exploration, characterized by “pursuing dreams, daring to explore, collaborating to overcome challenges, and making joint efforts for win-win results”. This will further boost the national confidence and pride of all Chinese people, pooling a great force to comprehensively advance the building of a strong country and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through a Chinese path to modernization.
Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi, all members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, attended the event.
At around 10 am, when Xi and other Party and state leaders came to the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People, a long and warm applause broke out. Xi shook hands with the representatives and had a group photo taken with them.
In the warm applause, Xi delivered an important speech. He said that on June 25 this year, when Chang ‘e-6 successfully returned after completing its mission, he sent a congratulatory message.
“Today, I and other Party leaders have come to see everyone, on behalf of the CPC Central Committee, I’d like to once again extend warm congratulations and sincere greetings to everyone present.” Xi said.
Xi pointed out that Chang ‘e-6, for the first time in human history, collected samples from the moon’s far side, breaking through a number of key technologies, marking another landmark achievement in building China into a country strong in space exploration as well as in science and technology. It is an important milestone for China’s lunar exploration project. Over the past 20 years, those participating in the lunar exploration project have focused on achieving breakthroughs in core technologies of key areas, making continuous progress in scientific discoveries, technological innovations, engineering practices, achievement applications, and international cooperation. Their efforts have paved a path for high-quality and cost-effective lunar exploration, making a significant contribution to the development of China’s aerospace industry and to the exploration of the universe for humanity, Xi said.
Xi said that exploring the vast universe and boosting China’s strength in aerospace is a dream we have tirelessly been pursuing. Over the 75 years since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, under the leadership of the CPC, generations of Chinese aerospace professionals have adhered to self-reliance and independent innovation, promoting the development of the space sector from scratch, making it ever stronger, and turning dreams and blueprints into reality. This has resulted in a historic, high-quality, and leapfrog development of the industry, and China is making solid strides in building its strength in aerospace.
Xi noted that the outer space is a common territory that belongs to the whole humanity, and space exploration is a common cause of all countries. In its lunar exploration project, China upholds the principle of equality and mutual benefit, peaceful utilization and win-win cooperation. “Chang’e” mission belongs not only to China, but also to the whole humanity. It provides a large stage for international sci-tech cooperation, and contributes China’s wisdom and efforts to the global deep space exploration. We will continue to have an open mind, further advance various forms of international cooperation and exchanges in space exploration, and share the fruits of development and improve outer space governance with other countries, so that the fruits of aerospace science will better benefit the humanity, Xi said.
Xi stressed that space exploration is a never-ending endeavor. He expressed the hope that those in the country’s space industry will achieve continuous progress, conscientiously conduct scientific research on lunar samples, continue to implement well major aerospace projects such as deep space exploration, and promote the well-rounded development of space science, technology and applications, so as to make new contributions to building China into a country strong in the space sector.
Then, Xi and others went to the East Hall of the Great Hall of the People to view lunar samples and the exhibition “Embracing the Moon: Achievements of 20 Years of Lunar Exploration.”
Li Ganjie, Li Shulei, Zhang Youxia, Zhang Guoqing, and Wu Zhenglong attended the event.
The lunar exploration project is a significant strategic decision the CPC Central Committee made by reflecting on the overarching trends in our country’s economic and technological development. Chang’e-6 mission, the most advanced lunar exploration endeavor in China’s aerospace history, achieved a historic milestone by taking back samples from the far side of the moon for the first time. This mission has laid a solid foundation for China’s future lunar and planetary explorations.
