The State Council Information Office of China on Tuesday published a white paper on China's space activities in 2016.
Following is the full text:
China's Space Activities in 2016
The State Council Information Office of the People's Republic of China
December 2016
First Edition 2016
Contents
Preamble
I. Purposes, Vision and Principles of Development
II. Major Developments Since 2011
III. Major Tasks for the Next Five Years
IV. Policies and Measures for Development
V. International Exchanges and Cooperation
Conclusion
Preamble
Space activities make up one of the most challenging hi-tech fields which exert enormous impact on other fields. Space activities have greatly improved man's knowledge of space, and provide an important driving force for social progress. Currently, more and more countries, including developing ones, are making the development of space activities an important strategic choice. Thus space activities around the world are flourishing.
The Chinese government takes the space industry as an important part of the nation's overall development strategy, and adheres to the principle of exploration and utilization of outer space for peaceful purposes. Over the past 60 years of remarkable development since its space industry was established in 1956, China has made great achievements in this sphere, including the development of atomic and hydrogen bombs, missiles, man-made satellites, manned spaceflight and lunar probe. It has opened up a path of self-reliance and independent innovation, and has created the spirit of China's space industry. To carry forward this spirit and stimulate enthusiasm for innovation, the Chinese government set April 24 as China's Space Day in 2016.
"To explore the vast cosmos, develop the space industry and build China into a space power is a dream we pursue unremittingly." In the next five years and beyond China will uphold the concepts of innovative, balanced, green, open and shared development, and promote the comprehensive development of space science, space technology and space applications, so as to contribute more to both serving national development and improving the well-being of mankind.
To enable the world community to better understand China's space industry, we are publishing this white paper to offer a brief introduction to the major achievements China has made in this field since 2011, its main tasks in the next five years, and its international exchanges and cooperation efforts.