Our reporter Su Yuting sat down with Jing Haipeng, a delegate to the 19th CPC National Congress. He's the first and only Chinese astronaut to have undertaken three separate space missions. He was the commander of the Shenzhou-11 spacecraft, and also flew the Shenzhou-7 and Shenzhou-9. He's earned China's highest military honor. Jing talked about his views on Xi Jinping's report on technological innovation and the development of China's aerospace industry.

 

SU YUTING BEIJING Q1: Jing Haipeng. Good to have you on CGTN. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized in his report to the 19th National Congress that, quote: China remains committed to building a strong armed forces and fully advancing the modernization of the National Defense and Military. He also highlighted the importance of supporting industries such as science and technology, and aerospace. As a CPC member and delegate representing the People's Liberation Army and China's astronauts, what's your take on Xi Jinping's report on the modernization of China's defense and the progress it has made in science, technology and aerospace? What has impressed you the most?

 

JING HAIPENG, ASTRONAUT DELEGATE TO 19TH CPC NATIONAL CONGRESS I am very glad to accept your interview. I went to the Delegates Corridor on October 18th. It's the first time the CPC National Congress has established the Delegates Corridor, and it's also my first time as a Party delegate. I was very excited and proud of being one of the first batch of delegates who had the opportunity to meet the press on the day of the opening session of the 19th Party National Congress. I was there at the Great Hall of the People and I listened to the three-and-a-half hour report delivered by General Secretary Xi Jinping, which I found very encouraging and inspiring. He used a long paragraph to stress the Chinese dream and the dream of building a strong country with a strong aerospace industry and strong armed forces. As a military man and a astronaut, I have full confidence in realizing those dreams and I will make my utmost contribution to that cause.

 

SU YUTING BEIJING Q2: You are the only Chinese astronaut to have gone into space three times. What's your assessment of China's aerospace development, especially the achievements by China's manned space program since the last National Congress in 2012?

 

JING HAIPENG, ASTRONAUT DELEGATE TO 19TH CPC NATIONAL CONGRESS I believe that an increasing number of astronauts will be able to make multiple trips into space. China's aerospace industry has achieved one breakthrough after another in the past five years. We have established China's Wenchang Lauch Center, an advanced spaceport which will allow the nation to further its space program; we have witnessed the successful lunar landing of the Chang'e Three Moon Rover, and the successful maiden launch of the newly-designed Long March 5 and Long March 7 rockets. The BeiDou Three Navigation Satellite System has been successfully installed and the world’s first quantum science experimental satellite Mozi has been launched. Chen Dong and I accomplished a 33-day journey in space docking the Shenzhou 11 with the Tiangong-2 space lab, which is the longest mission in China's manned space program to date. General Secretary Xi Jinping also mentioned the Shenzhou 11 in his New Year greeting speech. Xi Jinping has highly praised China's aerospace industry, and I believe it will make greater leaps forward and have a brighter future.

 

SU YUTING BEIJING Q3: This year marks the 90th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army, and you have received the highest military award, the Bayi Order, given to you by the chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission, Xi Jinping. How do you feel about receiving such an honor, and how do you see China's future military development?

 

JING HAIPENG, ASTRONAUT DELEGATE TO 19TH CPC NATIONAL CONGRESS It might not be a coincidence, it may be a kind of destiny. On July 28th, General Secretary Xi Jinping bestowed the Order of Bayi and the certificate onto me, and the previous evening, my photo for the event was taken in this very room. Your interview in this same room reminds me of that day. The Bayi Order is the highest honor a military officer can receive, and I felt as excited as I was to attend the 19th CPC National Congress. I think this honor belongs not only to me, but to all astronauts.

 

SU YUTING BEIJING Q4: It's reported that China will complete the construction of its own space station by around 2020. How involved are you in this project? Are you planning to go into space again?

 

JING HAIPENG, ASTRONAUT DELEGATE TO 19TH CPC NATIONAL CONGRESS The construction of a space station is a much more complicated mission than any previous ones. It requires a great deal of advanced technology and a huge and sophisticated structural system. That's also a huge challenge for the astronauts' physical, psychological and technical ability. I have made three trips to space - the first one lasted 3 days, the second one 13 days, and the third one 33 days. That's a total of 49 days, but this mission will require astronauts to be in space for at least three months or even longer. It is a highly anticipated mission, and I am definitely eager to go into space again.