Dinesh Chandra

Screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Sept. 30, 2022 shows the Wentian lab module completing transposition and docking with the side port of the space station's node cabin. China's space station lab module Wentian successfully completed in-orbit transposition at 12:44 p.m. Friday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). It was the first time China has completed the in-orbit transposition of a large-scale spacecraft cabin by applying transfer facilities, the CMSA said. During the transposition, the Wentian lab module first completed its state configuration and separated from the space station's core module Tianhe. Following up, Wentian conducted transposition and then docked with the side port of the space station's node cabin. Lasting around one hour, the operation was the result of cooperation between astronauts in space and professionals on Earth, the agency said. (Xinhua/Guo Zhongzheng) BEIJING, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- China'

BEIJING, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on Friday commended the achievements made in the development of the C919 large passenger aircraft and called for more major breakthroughs in China's high-end equipment manufacturing. Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks when meeting representatives from the C919 project team and viewing an exhibition on the project's achievements at the Great Hall of the People. source http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/view/2022-09/30/content_10188638.htm

BEIJING, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping and other leaders of the Communist Party of China and the state attended a ceremony on Friday morning in Tian'anmen Square in Beijing to present flower baskets to fallen national heroes. The event was held to mark Martyrs' Day, a day ahead of the National Day. source http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/view/2022-09/30/content_10188551.htm

BEIJING, Sept. 29 -- The disengagement of Chinese and Indian troops in the area of Jianan Daban is conducive to promoting peace and tranquility in the border areas, said Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, at a regular press conference on Thursday. The spokesperson made such remarks when being asked to comment on what some analysts have said that the disengagement is conducive to easing up the tension between the two countries. According to Tan, in line with the consensus reached in the 16th Round of China-India Corps Commander Level Meeting, the front-line troops of the two militaries in the area of Jianan Daban recently staged disengagement simultaneously in a planned manner. "This is a result achieved by the two sides in resolving relevant border issues through diplomatic and military consultations and negotiations at all levels, which is conducive to promoting peace and tranquility in the border area," said the spokespe

BEIJING, Sept.29 -- In early September, the Chinese military sent a military medical delegation to attend the 44th World Congress on Military Medicine in Brussels, Belgium, according to Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense (MND), at a regular press conference in Beijing on Thursday. The spokesperson said that during the meeting, the Chinese delegation had discussions and exchanges with the International Committee of Military Medical (ICMM), listened to work reports of the six regional working groups (RWG) of the ICMM, including Pan Asia Pacific RWG and Pan European RWG, as well as reports from five technical commissions (TCs) including TC for administration and logistics, and TC for pharmacy. They reviewed suggestions on management rules and regulations as well as future work plan. The spokesperson mentioned that an expert from the PLA Academy of Military Sciences was unanimously elected as the chairman of the Commission on Administrat

BEIJING, Sept. 29 -- The PLA's military countermeasures will not stop, as long as the DPP authorities and the "Taiwan independence" separatists continue to seek so-called independence by military means, said a Chinese defense spokesperson at a regular press conference on Thursday. Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense (MND), made the remarks when asked to comment on a report released by Taiwan's defense authority and the defense budget for the year 2023 of the island. "Relevant report has deliberately exaggerated the so-called mainland's military threat to Taiwan, confused the right and wrong, and intensified the tension and confrontation across the Taiwan Strait, which are extremely irresponsible," said the spokesperson, adding that "Taiwan independence" separatist forces and their activities have always been the biggest obstacle to the reunification of the country and a serious hidden danger t

BEIJING, Sept. 29 -- The Chinese PLA Army Engineering University held the Ninth International Army Cadets Week (IACW) in Nanjing via video link from September 28 to 29, according to Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defense, at a regular press conference in Beijing on Thursday. It is learnt that the participating officer cadets were from 34 military academies of 23 foreign countries including Singapore, ROK, France, Romania, Egypt and Brazil. Under the theme of “Capability and Quality of Military Personnel in the New Era”, this year’s IACW focused on issues including the core competence of military personnel, the command and control in multi-national military operations, and the reporting procedures in military operations. "The event serves as a platform for Chinese and foreign officer cadets to communicate and learn from each other, to share useful experience in military education, and to jointly improve the quality of military academie

BEIJING, Sept. 29 -- Political Commissar of Chinese PLA Navy Admiral Yuan Huazhi had a video meeting with Political Commissar of Vietnamese Navy Nguyen Van Bong on September 26. The two sides exchanged views on naval exchanges and cooperation, according to Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defense, at a regular press conference in Beijing on September 29. "China and Vietnam are socialist neighbors with adjoining mountains and rivers. Under the guidance of the General Secretary Xi Jinping and General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, the mil-to-mil relations between the two countries have developed in a solid and steady way and achieved bountiful fruits," said the spokesperson. The spokesperson also stated that in the future, the two sides will keep in close touch, improve mechanism building, intensify communication at all levels, and advance practical cooperation to jointly preserve regional security and stability. source http://eng.chi

BEIJING, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Thursday exchanged congratulatory messages over the 50th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic relations. In his message, Xi pointed out that 50 years ago, the then Chinese and Japanese leaders grasped the situation with foresight and made a major political decision to normalize China-Japan diplomatic relations, which opened a new chapter in bilateral relations. He said that over the past 50 years, thanks to the joint efforts of the two governments and peoples, the two sides have successively signed four political documents and reached a series of important consensuses, and continuously deepened exchanges and cooperation in various fields, bringing important benefits to the two countries and their people as well as promoting peace and development of the region and the wider world. Xi stressed that he attaches great importance to the development of China-Japan

The China-Arab Sates seminar on military higher learning institutions is held via video link at the PLA National Defense University (NDU) on the evening of September 28, 2022. (mod.gov.cn/Photo by Fu Yu) The China-Arab Sates seminar on military higher learning institutions was held via video link at the National Defense University (NDU) of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Wednesday evening. The theme of the seminar is "Strengthening higher military education cooperation and promoting the construction of a China-Arab community with a shared future". Leaders of military higher learning institutions from 16 Arab countries attended the event. At the seminar, the Chinese side said that the initiative to build a China-Arab community with a shared future proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping has pointed out the direction for the development of China-Arab relations in the new era. Facing the current complex and sensitive international landscape, China and Arab

BEIJING, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping and other leaders of the Communist Party of China and the state will join representatives from all walks of life in presenting flowers to fallen national heroes on Friday morning in Tian'anmen Square. Sept. 30 is China's Martyrs' Day. The event will be broadcast live by China Media Group. source http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/view/2022-09/28/content_10188098.htm

Xi Jinping and other Communist Party of China and state leaders Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji and Han Zheng visit the exhibition -- "Forging Ahead in the New Era" -- at the Beijing Exhibition Hall in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 27, 2022. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) BEIJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday stressed concerted efforts to forge ahead determinedly toward a new victory of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks when visiting an exhibition on the great achievements of the Party and the country over the past decade. Xi stressed that since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, the CPC Central Committee has united and led the whole Party, the country, and the people in solving many challenging problems that were long on the agenda but never resolved, making many

A visitor takes picture of an AG600M firefighting aircraft in Jingmen, central China's Hubei Province, Sept. 27, 2022. Codenamed Kunlong, the AG600 large amphibious aircraft family is seen as key aeronautical equipment for China's emergency-rescue system. It was developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), the country's leading plane-maker, to meet the needs of firefighting and marine-rescue missions, as well as other critical emergency-rescue operations. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun) BEIJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- China's independently-developed AG600 large amphibious aircraft has gained significant progress by completing critical flight tests and getting the first batch of purchase agreements, the developer announced on Tuesday. The AG600M aircraft, a full-configuration firefighting model belonging to the AG600 aircraft family, successfully conducted pivotal tests Tuesday morning, including scooping and dropping water, said the Aviation Industry Corporatio

BEIJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- China on Tuesday released a new investigation report in which it said further evidence has been found to show the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) is behind "thousands of cyber attacks" on a Chinese university. With the technical support from a number of European and Southeast Asian countries, Chinese experts were able to retrace the technical features, attack weapons and paths used in the cyber attack against China's Northwestern Polytechnical University, according to the report published by China's National Computer Virus Emergency Response Center in collaboration with internet security company 360. They have found that those attacks originated from the NSA-affiliated Office of Tailored Access Operation (TAO), which had exposed its own technical loopholes and operational missteps during the attack, the report said. Earlier probe has found that 41 types of cyber weapons were used by TAO in the recently exposed cyber attacks against

An air show at the 13th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, September 28, 2021. /CFP The 14th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition will be held from November 8 to 13 in Zhuhai City, south China's Guangdong Province, officials said at a press conference about the event on Tuesday. To be held both online and offline, the exhibition will use augmented reality and virtual reality technology to give visitors an immersive experience. source http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/view/2022-09/27/content_10187757.htm

China's AG600M, a full-state, new-configuration amphibious firefighting aircraft, has successfully tested its ability to draw and drop 12-tons of water during a flight in Central China's Hubei province on Sept 27, 2022. [Photo by Yue Shuhua/for chinadaily.com.cn] Operators of the AG600M, the fire-extinguishing variant of China's AG600 seaplane, tested the craft's capability of collecting and discharging its maximum load of water for the first time on Tuesday, according to Aviation Industry Corp of China. The State-owned aircraft maker said in a news release that the amphibious plane was piloted by a four-member crew and took off from the Zhanghe Airport in Jingmen, Hubei province, at 10:05 am. It carried 12 metric tons of water, the maximum amount allowed for the model. The seaplane flew to a designated airspace and then discharged the water in a mock fire-extinguishing operation before landing on the waters of the Zhanghe Reservoir. It sailed quickly on the reserv

UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 27 -- The United Nations General Assembly held a high-level plenary meeting on September 26 to commemorate the International Day for the Total Elimination of NuclearWeapons. Ambassador Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, said at the meeting that countries with the largest nuclear arsenals should earnestly fulfill their special responsibilities and further significantly and substantially reduce their nuclear arsenals. Amb. Geng said that the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons and the eventual establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free world serve the common interests of mankind and arethe shared aspiration of all countries.For some time, certain countries have been obsessed with “strategic competition among major countries”, constantly strengthening military alliances, provoking confrontation between parties, advancing forward deployment of strategic forces, and insisting on nuclear submarine co

GENEVA, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Tibet related issues are China's internal affairs, and there should be no politicization of human rights and double standards, or interference in China's internal affairs under the pretext of human rights, a group of countries stressed Monday at the on-going 51st session of the UN Human Rights Council. A joint statement delivered by Pakistan on behalf of 68 States stressed that respect for sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of states and non-interference in internal affairs of sovereign states represent the basic norms governing international relations. The joint statement said that all parties should abide by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, adhere to the principles of universality, impartiality, objectivity and non-selectivity, and respect the right of the people of each state to choose independently the path for development in accordance with their national conditions. I

BEIJING, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has written a foreword, titled "Forging Ahead on the Journey to National Rejuvenation," for works of literature collected in the Revitalization Library, which will soon be published. In the foreword, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, emphasized the necessity to draw on the lessons of history, reflect on the past, look to the future, and press forward on the journey to national rejuvenation. source http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/view/2022-09/26/content_10187406.htm

By Liu Bin and Wang Xuechao GAO, Mali, Sept. 26 -- The 10th Chinese peacekeeping medical contingent to Mali organized a defense drill at the Chinese level-II hospital in Gao，Mali, on September 24. The drill was conducted against a scenario that after the outside of the Chinese level-II hospital was attacked by curved trajectory weapons, the members of the contingent’s emergency response team immediately made themselves fully armed and rushed to the designated battle positions to get combat readiness for defense. The rest of the contingent put on blue helmets and bulletproof vests took cover in the nearest bunkers. Since mid-September, the security situation in Mali has been in tension, and multiple peacekeeping detachments of the United Nations Multi-dimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) have been attacked. The Chinese peacekeeping medical contingent has adjusted the deployment of its guard force by adding camp gate security checkpoints and night patrol sent

Hong Kong's Disciplined Services practice Chinese-style foot drill on Saturday during a grand parade in the special administrative region. The parade, organized by the Security Bureau of the SAR government, was held to celebrate the 73rd anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. [Photo by Edmond Tang/China Daily] The Security Bureau led the disciplined services, auxiliary services and nine youth groups to hold the "Together We Prosper" grand parade in Hong Kong on Saturday. Speaking at the ceremony, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said that colleagues from the disciplined services are at the forefront of maintaining law and order. "They protect the lives and property of Hong Kong citizens with selfless dedication and work tirelessly to prevent and suppress acts endangering national security," he said. He also praised the disciplined services and auxiliary services for their commitment to epidemic prevention work, and poin

On this day in 2012, China's first aircraft carrier Liaoning was commissioned to the PLA Navy. In just 10 years, China has entered the era of three aircraft carriers from scratch, from refitted to home-made, from ski-jump to catapult. source http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/view/2022-09/25/content_10187125.htm

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivers a speech at the general debate of the 77th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) The Communist Party of China will convene its 20th National Congress in Beijing next month, Wang said, adding that this Congress will, in response to the expectation of all the Chinese people, set well-conceived goals and tasks for China's development in the next five years and beyond, and that it will draw an overarching plan for China's future development. UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Saturday called on the international community to make every effort for peace and development, and shoulder the responsibility for solidarity and progress. While delivering a speech at the general debate of the 77th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, Wang said the world is at a time f

Next Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivered speech to the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Saturday. Wang Yi said that this is an era full of challenges. The world has entered a new period of turbulence and change. This is also a time of hope. World multi-polarization, economic globalization, social informatization, and cultural diversification are developing in depth, and countries are increasingly connected and interdependent. The theme of the times for peace and development has not changed, and people of all countries have a stronger desire for progress and cooperation. For how to respond to the requirements of the times, grasp the historical trend, and jointly build a community with a shared future for mankind, Wang Yi said that China has the following six firm and clear propositions： 1. Be peaceful, not conflict. We must persist in resolving differences through peaceful means and resolving disputes through dialogue and consultation. 2. To

China has made significant progress in building its aircraft carrier fleet in the past decade since the first, the Liaoning, was commissioned on September 25, 2012. China's first aircraft carrier Liaoning. /CFP China refurbished the old Soviet model after purchasing it secondhand in 1999, making it the country's first carrier. In the later years, the country independently built its own carrier, the Shandong, which uses ski-jump ramps to launch fighter aircraft. It was commissioned in 2019. The Shandong aircraft carrier built independently by China. /CFP This June, with the launch of its new aircraft carrier, the Fujian, the Chinese navy now has three. The vessel is the first in the fleet to be equipped with an electromagnetic catapult and can send off shipboard aircraft in rapid succession. These days, the Fujian has been conducting a series of equipment installation and debugging, while furthering the relevant test missions. China's third aircraft carrier, the Fu

A Kuaizhou-1A carrier rocket carrying two satellites blasts off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China Sept. 25, 2022. The pair of satellites, Shiyan-14 and Shiyan-15, were lifted at 6:55 a.m. (2255 GMT Saturday) from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center and entered the preset orbit. (Photo by Zheng Bin/Xinhua) TAIYUAN, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- China on Sunday launched a Kuaizhou-1A carrier rocket to place two satellites in space. The pair of satellites, Shiyan-14 and Shiyan-15, were lifted at 6:55 a.m. (Beijing Time) from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in the northern province of Shanxi and soon entered the preset orbit. The Shiyan-14 will mainly be used to conduct scientific experiments and verify new technologies, while the Shiyan-15 will provide data in the fields of land survey, urban planning, and disaster prevention and mitigation. It was the 18th flight mission of the Kuaizhou-1A series rockets, according to the launch center. A Kuaizhou-1A carrier rock

BEIJING, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- A total of 2,296 delegates were elected to attend the upcoming 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), an official statement said Sunday. Under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the delegates were elected in accordance with the Party Constitution, the CPC Central Committee's requirements, adopting methods required by the CPC Central Committee, the statement said. The process upheld the Party's nature and purpose, adhered to and enhanced the Party's overall leadership, and fully embodied intraparty democracy, it added. The delegates are composed of outstanding CPC members who are highly-qualified ideologically and politically, have good work styles and high moral standards, are competent in discussing state affairs, and have made remarkable achievements in their work, the statement said. The spectrum of the delegates is broadly representative, meeting the require

BEIJING, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- A total of 2,296 delegates were elected to attend the upcoming 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), according to an official statement released Sunday. source http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/view/2022-09/25/content_10187086.htm

On September 20, 2022, representatives from the Chinese and Cambodian defense ministries sign on the certificates to transfer Chinese-aided supplies to the Cambodian side at a handover ceremony held in Kampong Chhnang Province, Cambodia. BEIJING, Sept. 23 -- A ceremony marking the handover of supplies provided by China's Ministry of National Defense to its Cambodian counterpart was held at the Phnom Chumreay International Military Police Training Centre in Kampong Chhnang Province, Cambodia on the morning of September 20, 2022. Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense General Tea Banh attended the event and delivered speeches. At the ceremony, Senior Colonel Tang Hao, defense attaché of the Chinese Embassy in Cambodia, and General Sao Sokha, deputy commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) and commander of the Gendarmerie, signed the handover certificate on behalf of the Chinese and Cambo

BEIJING, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping has sent a congratulatory letter to the China News Service (CNS) on its 70th founding anniversary, stressing the importance of innovating the discourse system and improving the capacity for international communication. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, underscored the need to enhance the appeal and effectiveness of news reports. Over the past seven decades, the CNS has upheld the guidelines of patriotism and remained committed to serving overseas Chinese, helping tell China's stories well and make China's voice heard, noted the letter. Xi expressed his hope that the CNS will actively build connections with overseas Chinese-language media outlets, and make new and greater contributions to presenting a credible, lovable, and respectable image of China, enhancing the great unity of all the sons and daughters of the Chinese nation,

CHENGDU, Sept. 23 -- On September 22, 109 members of the second echelon of the 25th Chinese peacekeeping force to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) arrived at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport by chartered plane. So far, all the members of the 25th Chinese peacekeeping force to the DRC have returned home. The DRC peacekeeping mission area features volatile security situation, rampant diseases and harsh natural environment. The 25th Chinese peacekeeping force, consisting of a total of 218 members, included a 175-member engineering detachment and a 43-member medical detachment, and had gone to the mission area in two batches in September and October 2021. During the one-year mission period, they have completed all tasks with excellence. The engineering company has organized 48 times of engineering surveys and completed 36 engineering support tasks of varied types; the level-II hospital has received a total of 521 patients and performed 34 operations. Both of them have wo

A farmer drives a piece of farming machinery to harvest rice at a family farm in Jiutai District of Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, Sept. 20, 2022. Autumn harvest has recently started at the rice-growing areas across the province. (Xinhua/Yan Linyun) BEIJING, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, has extended festive greetings and sincere regards on behalf of the CPC Central Committee to farmers and people working on agricultural and rural fronts ahead of the fifth Chinese farmers' harvest festival. Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, stressed making solid progress in rural vitalization, as well as bringing prosperity, happy lives and a beautiful environment to rural residents. Having overcome the impact of last year's rare autumn floods in the north, the late sowing of winter wheat in large areas and sporadic resurgences of COVID-19 cases, and cope

Members of the 2nd echelon of 26th Chinese peacekeeping force to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) enter the barracks in the mission area in Bukavu city, South Kivu province of the DRC, on Sept. 21, 2022. (Photo by Wang Jin Wei) BEIJING, Sept. 22 -- The second echelon of the 26th Chinese peacekeeping force to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), consisting of 101 members, safely entered the Chinese engineering contingent's barracks in the mission area in Bukavu city, South Kivu province of the DRC, on Sept. 21, local time. Their arrival marks that all members of the 26th Chinese Peacekeeping force to DRC are in position. The 26th Chinese peacekeeping force to the DRC consists of an engineering detachment and a medical detachment selected from a brigade under the PLA Xizang Military Command and the General Hospital of the PLA Xizang Military Command. On September 7, 109 members of the first echelon of the 26th Chinese peacekeeping force to the DRC, consisting of

Anita Kiki Gebe, deputy joint special representative of the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), awards UN peace medal to a soldier of the 2nd China Medium Utility Helicopter Unit (CMUHU02) in El-Fashir, Sudan, July 17, 2019. [Photo/Xinhua] President Xi Jinping reiterated on Wednesday the importance of maintaining peace and security amid the volatile changes in the international landscape, and he called on countries to work together to uphold peace and pursue peaceful development. Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in a congratulatory letter to the Commemorative Event for the International Day of Peace 2022, which was held in Beijing on Wednesday. Liu Jianchao, minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, read the letter at the event. Xi said that profound and complex changes have taken place in the international security situation, and the world is entering a fresh peri

BEIJING, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Shenzhou-14 taikonauts, who are aboard the Tiangong space station, gave an off-Earth salute to all participants in China's 30-year manned space program on Wednesday. In a celebratory video message released by the China Manned Space Agency, taikonauts Chen Dong, Liu Yang and Cai Xuzhe raised their right hands to their heads, expressing their appreciation for the country's accomplishments in human space exploration. "We pay the highest respect to veteran leaders, experts and all staff members who have made outstanding contributions to the project over the past 30 years," Chen, also the crew commander, said in the video. The three taikonauts were also seen stamping a commemorative envelope, which is printed with an image of the T-shaped space station that China aims to finish building by the end of 2022. China approved its manned space program on Sept. 21, 1992. After three decades of endeavors, the country will soon complete the in-