China plans to realize a crewed lunar landing before 2030, Lin Xiqiang, deputy director of the China Manned Space Agency, announced on Monday.

Lin said at a conference that China has recently initiated the lunar landing phase of its manned lunar exploration program.

The overall goal is to achieve China's first manned landing on the moon by 2030 and carry out lunar scientific exploration and related technological experiments, he added.

According to Lin, the goals also include mastering key technologies such as Earth-moon manned round-trip, short-term stay on the lunar surface, human-robot joint exploration, accomplishing multiple tasks of landing, roving, sampling, researching and returning, and forming an independent capability of manned lunar exploration.

(With input from Xinhua)