China's Shenzhou-8 spacecraft to carry bio sample for European Space Agency

　　China has agreed to carry a bio sample for the European Space Agency on the country's Shenzhou-8 spacecraft, Zhang Jianqi, deputy chief commander of the manned space project, said here Sunday.

　　"China is actively gearing up international cooperation in the field of manned space," Zhang told reporters on the sidelines of China's parliament annual session, citing the agreement with Europe as an example.

　　The country plans to launch the Shenzhou-8 and Shenzhou-9 spacecraft in 2011, a former chief designer of the manned-space project said a day earlier.

　　Zhang stressed China welcomes and will continue cooperation with other countries in exploring the space, adding the country's space endeavors are always open to the outside.

　　"China will definitely work with the International Space Station, once the country sets up its own space station," said Zhang, a deputy to the National People's Congress (NPC), the country's top legislature.

　　He said it's necessary for astronauts to be able to offer mutual aid in case of emergency during their relatively long stay in the space.

　　"The Unites States and other countries have agreed to this and said they are willing to start such cooperation," he added.

　　Zhang said Thursday the country is selecting taikonauts for the country's planned first space station.

　　全国人大代表、中国载人航天工程副总指挥、总装备部副部长张建启7日透露，中国已和欧洲签署合作协议，将在神舟八号上为欧洲空间局搭载一个生物实验样品。

　　“这是中国积极加强载人航天领域国际合作的一个例证。”张建启说，中国的航天事业是高度开放透明的，欢迎并将继续加强与其他国家的合作。

　　中国发展载人航天，最终目的是要和平利用太空，造福中国和世界人民。“中国的空间站建成后，必将与国际空间站展开合作。”他说，航天员在空间居住时间较长，万一出现意外情况，需要相互展开救援。“美国等国也意识到了这个问题，愿意与我们展开这方面的合作。”

　　张建启表示，航天领域的国际合作，是任何国家都要走的道路。中国的航天事业从一开始就是开放型的。中国已经在一些国家建立了航天测控站，与这些国家的合作非常好，双方都从中受益匪浅。