The International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) announced on Monday that four Chinese space scientists have been elected as IAA corresponding members.

The new corresponding members include Liu Zhenxing, member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Wu Ji, director of the CAS Center for Space Science and Applied Research, Yuan Jiajun, director of the Chinese Academy of Space Technology, and Zhuang Fengyuan, a life scientist at Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Another two Chinese scientists Chen Shinian and Li Furong were transferred from corresponding members to full members.

Founded by Theodore Von Karman in 1960, the IAA is the world's most prestigious organization in space science and technology. Among all 1,234 IAA members, 55 are from China.

(Xinhua News Agency July 18, 2006)