Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda on Wednesday hailed the successful launch of China's second manned spacecraft Shenzhou VI.
The top government spokesman also expressed hope at a press conference in Tokyo that the Shenzhou VI will reach a normal return after successful scientific research trip in space.
"China's development in the field of manned spacecraft has no relation with any 'military threat'," Hosoda said, referring to some reporters' question about peaceful use of space.
While being asked about Japan's consecutive failures of rocket launching, Hosoda noted that Japan is confident in its space development technology. "The technology used in launching manned spacecraft and satellite are different. We can't treat them as the same," he said.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao Wednesday morning reiterated that China develops space technology purely for peaceful purposes and China is willing to cooperate with other nations in the development of space science and technology.
In a brief speech hailing the Shenzhou VI's successful launch at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gansu Province, the premier said China's space program, which is purely for peaceful purposes, is a contribution to human's science and peace.
(Xinhua News Agency October 13, 2005)
