Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said in Beijing Thursday that the success of China's first manned space mission is a big progress of human being in peacefully utilizing outer space.

Shenzhou V, the Chinese spacecraft, specially carried the flags of the United Nations and China, showing China's willingness to closely cooperate with the United Nations and join hands with other nations in peaceful utilization of outer space, Zhang said.

(Xinhua News Agency October 16, 2003)