China's future space missions will include astronauts and experts from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, it was announced on Friday.

"During the future space station mission, the astronauts will not only include pilots and commanders but also flight engineers and payload specialists," Wu Ping, spokeswoman for China's manned space program, said at a press conference.

"I believe there will be astronauts from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan on board Shenzhou spaceships flying into the space," she added.

People in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan have shown keen interests in the manned space missions and offered lots of support, according to Wu, adding some universities and research institutes in Hong Kong and Macao have engaged in basic research and exchanges with the manned space program.

"We welcome more scientists from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan to take part in the development of space lab and space station," Wu said.