China's first astronaut Yang Liwei said Monday in Beijing that his UN visit strengthened exchanges with foreign astronauts and aeronautic and space organizations.

Yang made the remarks in an interview at the Beijing airport on his return with the delegation of China's manned space program from a visit to the UN headquarters in New York and UN outer space department in Austria.

Hu Shixiang, head of the delegation and deputy head of the manned space program, said the visit showed China's great achievements in its manned space program.

It demonstrated the Chinese government's support for international cooperation in peaceful utilization of outer space under the UN mechanism and its willingness to carry out exchanges with other countries on aeronautic and space programs, he said.

It is also significant for the Chinese government and the United Nations to strengthen cooperation in outer space and manned space programs, he added.

The delegation toured the UN at the invitation of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. During the visit, Yang Liwei presented Annan with two UN flags which he had taken with him on his mission in last October.

Besides visits to aeronautic museums and space centers, the delegation also met with several former US astronauts.
   
(People's Daily June 1, 2004)