Sixty years ago, Soviet astronaut Yuri Gagarin journeyed into outer space, ushering Earth into the era of space flights. 

Five years prior to that, Qian Xuesen, father of China's space technology, set up China's first rocket and missile research institute, marking the start of China's space explorations.

From the pioneering effort, China's space odyssey reached a new technology milestone on April 29, when construction of the Chinese space station Tiangong started with the launch of its core module, Tianhe, which will function as the management and control center of the space station.

Building a space station and space laboratory is the final stage in the three-step strategic plan for manned space projects. The first step was sending astronauts into space, following in Gagarin's footsteps, and the second was accomplishing extra-vehicular activity, and docking and rendezvous in space.

Now, as part of the third stage, the Chinese space station is expected to be ready for service in 2022. That is the year the International Space Station, run by the space agencies of Europe, the U.S., Russia, Canada and Japan, may retire after over 20 years of operation, and Tiangong may become the only space station working as a space laboratory for the world.

In the past 65 years, China has made substantial progress in rockets, satellites, manned spaceflights and extraterrestrial planetary probes. It has become a leading country in a number of important technologies via self-reliance and independent innovation.

China seeks to utilize outer space for peaceful purposes, economic development, national security, and science and technology development. Its ultimate aim is to raise domestic scientific ability, protect national interests and rights, and promote human civilization and social progress.

All countries have equal right to peacefully explore, develop and utilize outer space and celestial bodies. China maintains that international exchanges and cooperation should be strengthened on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, peaceful utilization and inclusive development.

China's space technologies and activities are independent but not exclusive. During the past decades, it has been participating in space activities sponsored by international organizations including the United Nations, and supported international commercial cooperation in space. Its space missions will also open up to foreign astronauts who will work in the Chinese space station, taking global cooperation to a new height.

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