President Xi Jinping Exhorts Acceleration in China's Space Ambitions, Commemorates Chang'e-6 Mission Success

In a compelling gathering at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed fervent encouragement for the members of China's space industry to persistently aim higher and hasten advancements in the nation's space exploration efforts. During the meeting on September 23, 2024, Xi highlighted the Chang'e-6 lunar mission's groundbreaking achievements, including the first-ever retrieval of lunar materials from the moon's far side—a landmark event in human space history.

President Xi, who concurrently holds pivotal leadership roles as the general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, pinpointed the lunar exploration project's success as a reflection of Chinese aerospace workers' ingenuity and perseverance. It demonstrates China's leaps in scientific and technical independence. Moreover, the triumphs serve as a lodestar for boosting the morale and nationalistic pride of the Chinese populace, envisaged as a unifying engine driving the grand narrative of China's rejuvenation through modernization.

As the Chang'e-6 probe triumphantly delivered over 1.9 kg of lunar samples to Earth on June 25 following its launch earlier in May, Xi celebrated this as a pivotal milestone in the country's space narrative. This endeavor by China not only pushes the boundaries of human exploration but also heralds a notable stride in China's ever-expanding portfolio of space-related achievements.

The lunar project, spanning two decades, has persistently aimed at mastering core technologies, reaping abundant fruits in scientific discoveries, technological novelties, engineering practices, benefitting from achievements, and fostering international collaboration. President Xi emphasized the journey taken from a nascent space presence to one of international acclaim, exhibiting remarkable development over the past 75 years since the People’s Republic of China was founded.

Recognizing the shared nature of outer space as a human domain, Xi underscored the universal cruciality of celestial exploration, aligning with principles of mutual benefit, peaceful uses, and cooperative gains. The participation of the Chang'e missions within global scientific cooperation frameworks evidences China's resolve to impart its insights and advancements to the wider world, echoing its commitment to inclusive and responsible outer space governance.

President Xi's address went beyond the commemoration; it was a clarion call to the nation's aerospace sector to venture further. He advocated for meticulous scientific research into lunar samples obtained, perpetuation of major space undertakings, and an ambition to holistically cultivate space science and technology coupled with pragmatic applications.

Senior CPC members, including Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, and Li Xi, joined President Xi as they assayed both the invaluable lunar specimens and an exhibition detailing twenty years of lunar exploration triumphs.

With President Xi's exhortation as a pivotal moment, the confluence of diligent scientific endeavor, technological prowess, and embracing the spirit of international cooperation set the bearings for China as it navigates its voyage into the vast expanse of space.