Jiang Zemin, chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), has hailed success of China's first manned space flight as "one more proof to the will and capability of the Chinese people to surmount the peak of world science and technology."

This came Thursday in a telephone call to Li Jinai, the most senior official in charge of the country's piloted space flight program.

Jiang said, "I am very happy and excited to hear that our country's first manned space flight has turned out to be a complete success."

The CMC chairman congratulated all those -- scientists and technicians, cadres and workers, and army officers and soldiers --involved in the flight of Shenzhou V, which returned early Thursday morning after orbiting the Earth 14 times in 21 hours.

"I believe that under the leadership of the Communist Party of China Central Committee with Hu Jintao as general secretary, we will surely make more brilliant achievements in developing aerospace undertakings and in developing China's scientific and technological undertakings as a whole," Jiang said.

"The great rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation is definitely to come true," the CMC chairman said.

(Xinhua News Agency October 16, 2003)