China eyes closer aerospace cooperation with Russia

China is keen to deepen cooperation with Russia in the aerospace sector, especially in manned space flight and deep space exploration programs, a Chinese aerospace entrepreneur said Tuesday. Yin Liming, president of the China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC), said his company has kept extensive contacts with Russia's federal space agency Roscosmos and major aerospace enterprises in recent years, as the two countries are seeking closers ties in the field. In accordance with the 2010-2012 China-Russia Space Cooperation Outline, China and Russia will continue to strengthen their cooperation in the field, in particular in the creation of a satellite navigation system, joint deep space research, moon exploration and manned space missions, Yin told Xinhua in an interview at the 10th MAKS air show. "China and Russia have great opportunities for deeper cooperation. We can jointly implement space projects for scientific and peaceful purposes," Yin said. On the prospects of manned space programs, Yin said China, which has already successfully launched its self-developed Shenzhou manned spacecraft, would delve into the development of space labs and space stations. But to achieve this goal, China needs more international cooperation and coordination, Yin said, adding that leading countries including Russia should be more open in technology sharing. Established in 1980, the CGWIC is the sole commercial organization authorized by the Chinese government to provide satellites and commercial launch services and to carry out international space cooperation. The CGWIC mainly presented Long March serial launch vehicles, including the LM-3B and LM-4B, at this year's MAKS international air show, the largest and most important air show held every other year in Russia. At the 2009 MAKS air show, the CGWIC unveiled China's first Mars probe YH-1, which, as part of the China-Russia joint Mars probe program, was originally scheduled to be launched that fall together with Russia's Phobos-Grunt probe. The launch was later postponed to November 2011. The CGWIC president said the Mars program has showcased the two countries' joint efforts in the space industry in the past four years. "Through such cooperation, the scientists and researchers of our two nations can make more contribution to human efforts in space exploration," he said.