Commentary: Peace underpins China's space endeavors

China's efforts to build the nation into a space power through its manned space program and space probe have been made in the spirit of peace.

However, coverage by Western media of China's successful launch of the manned spacecraft Shenzhou-11 on Monday alluded to the project's military background.

Shenzhou-11, China's sixth manned spacecraft, docked with space lab Tiangong-2 on Wednesday, bringing China's ambitious space station program one step closer to reality.

Orbiting space lab Tiangong-2 and Shenzhou-11 manned spacecraft will mark the first time that Chinese astronauts will stay in orbit for a medium-length mission.

Western media outlets were quick to comment on the mission's supposed military elements. Mentions of China's commitment to international cooperation and sharing lessons from its manned space program with other countries, especially developing countries, were absent in much of the coverage.

Driven by the principle of peaceful use of outer space, China has signed multiple cooperation agreements with over 30 countries and organizations including Russia, Kazakhstan, Germany, France, the European Space Agency and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs.

The nation's manned space engineering office said it will expand international cooperation on equipment research and development, space applications, astronaut training, joint flight and aerospace medical care.

During the past decades, China has made rapid and remarkable achievements in its space technology program, which have been met with worldwide approval.

It should come as no surprise that rather than seeking space military deployment, China is actively engaged in scientific exploration through experiments during space missions. This is the major theme and goal of the program.

China's trajectory has proved that its space exploration is peaceful, diverse and productive.

In 1999, Shenzhou-1 tested space mutation breeding by carrying seeds, including green pepper, melon, tomato and licorice, as well as bioactive strains that could help develop medicines for cardio-cerebrovascular diseases.

China worked with Germany in 2011 on the Shenzhou-8 mission, which featured cooperative experiments in life science on board the spacecraft.

Chinese astronauts on the 2012 Shenzhou-9 mission completed 15 experiments in aerospace medicine. During the Shenzhou-10 mission the following year, more space-specific medical experiments were conducted, in addition to technical tests and a lecture delivered to students on Earth.

During the ongoing Shenzhou-11 mission, astronauts will conduct three experiments designed by middle school students from the country's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, including raising silkworms.

China's space missions also have impacts on people's everyday lives. Its space programs have developed a number of top-quality and high-yield farm products that have ended up on dining tables across China.

China's manned spaceflight project showcases an applied space science program that aims to support scientific progress and economic development.

It is clear that China wants to use its space program for peaceful purposes and it values sharing as a way to benefit all of humanity.

In 2011 China issued a white paper on space, which demonstrated its determination to take a path of peaceful development. The central government has "adhered to exploration and utilization of outer space for peaceful purposes," the white paper said.

These actions and words should not fall on deaf ears.

China is open to cooperating with other countries in space exploration. So far, it has helped over 20 countries and regions with 50 launches, and exported 11 satellites to nine countries. China's contributions to the space industry have been widely acknowledged.

Should the International Space Station end its mission on schedule in 2024, China may become the only country with a permanent space post.

Extensive global cooperation is the future. It is also the here-and-now and it is unavoidable, as it should be. Over the years China has proved itself an important and reliable partner in space exploration.

More cooperation, rather than thinly veiled agendas, will advance space exploration -- an endeavor that belongs to all of mankind. Endi