It's been two decades since China's first taikonaut, Yang Liwei, launched into space. Since then, the Chinese space sector has gone from strength to strength. For more on the reasons behind the success, our reporter Wu Lei shares his thoughts. 

WU LEI, Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center "This is the Wentiange apartment compound at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, where Chinese astronauts or taikonauts live and work before entering space.

This wall displays the portraits of all the taikonauts from the Shenzhou-5 to the Shenzhou-16 crew. A total of 18 taikonauts have been sent into space to carry out space missions. Every time when I come to the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, it is quite emotional to see more and more portraits on the wall. It seems the space won't be enough very soon.

After 30 years of development, these taikonauts have successfully completed various experiments and the construction of the Chinese space station. Among the factors, opening up and cooperation will play a bigger role for China's human spaceflight programs, offering more wisdom and solutions to international space exploration.

China space station will be in low earth orbit for more than 10 years and is open to all United Nations member states.

In the past few years, I've had the privilege to witness many taikonauts entering space from here. This year, I interviewed two taikonauts face to face. In October, at the International Astronautical Congress, the world's largest aerospace event held in Azerbaijan, I participated in some international forums and talked with leaders of different countries' space agencies and organizations. The international community has paid increasing attention to China's human spaceflight and deep space exploration missions.

China Manned Space Agency has reiterated that China welcomes astronauts and scientists from all over the world to work and live on the space station. China's selection of taikonauts is also open to all positions. Not only pilots, but also doctors, engineers, payload experts, and scientists will have the opportunity to work on the Chinese Space Station.

Starting from the Shenzhou-16 crew, we have seen non-pilot taikonauts. And don't forget our Shenzhou-16 crew member Gui Haichao, who is a payload expert and a university teacher wearing glasses.

The Chinese space station will continue to add new modules in the future. China will also launch an optical cabin – the Xuntian telescope. Currently, nine projects involving entities in 17 countries have become the first batch of projects selected for scientific experiments on the China space station.

Before 2030, China also plans to implement a human spaceflight mission to the moon. China aims to work with the international partners to build and operate an International Lunar Research Station and explore lunar resources.

Looking ahead, Chinese taikonauts, scientists and engineers will continue to expand cooperation with scientists around the world and jointly explore the mystery of the universe, and serve the progress of human civilization, WL, CGTN, Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center."