The United Nations space agency says China's Tiangong space station represents an important milestone for the country's space program and offers an opportunity for international collaboration. Wu Lei spoke exclusively with Niklas Hedman, the Acting Director of the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs.
WU LEI CGTN Reporter "China has been building its human spaceflight programs since 1992, and after 30 years of research and development, a total of 16 Chinese astronauts have been sent into space. How do you see the future of China's manned space programs, and China's role in global space collaboration?"
NIKLAS HEDMAN, Acting Director, United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs "The primary example right now is obviously the China's space station, so that will really boost the role of China as an international partner in space research in orbit, we see a very big future role for China in space research in orbit, but then obviously we also know that China has an active program of planetary program, meaning going to the moon and also to other celestial bodies, so China will also remain an important stakeholder and partner also internationally when it comes to planetary exploration and research, so there are two areas where I see China really boosting its international role in the future."