China will focus on research on the Moon and deep space, said Luan Enjie, director of the State Aerospace Bureau, at the ongoing China Industrial Hi-tech Forum.

His bureau has just launched a project cooperating with its European counterpart to make breakthroughs in exploring the moon in the next decade or longer.

The plan was initially made public when the Chinese Government released the White Paper for China's aerospace development.

Sources with the bureau said China will launch Moon detectors from Long March carrier rockets on the basis of applied technology development.

Xu Dazhe, director of the China Institute of Carrier Rocket Technology, said the Moon exploration plan is based on China's improving aerospace technology and the national strength.

China is ranked near the top in the world in terms of aerospace technology with a full set of carrier rockets, applied satellites and a related research and development center and production base.

(Xinhua News Agency 10/15/2001)