China open to space cooperation with all nations

China is open to space cooperation with all nations including the United States, the heavyweights of China's space program said on Sunday, the anniversary of China's first satellite launch 46 years ago.

4月24号是暨46年前中国第一架航空飞机飞行第46年纪念日，中国航空项目一位要人说道，中国欢迎和包括美国在内的任何国家进行航空合作。

"China will not rule out cooperating with any country, and that includes the United States," said Yang Liwei, China's first astronaut.

"中国可以和任何国家合作，不排除美国，"中国第一位航天员杨利伟说道。

Payload has been reserved in the Chinese space station, due to enter service around 2022, for international projects and foreign astronauts, said Yang on the occasion of the first China Space Day, an annual celebration newly designated by the government. Upon request, China will also train astronauts for other countries, and jointly train astronauts with the European space station, Yang said."The future of space exploration lies in international cooperation. It's true for us, and for the United States too," according to the senior astronaut.

国家政府设立国家航天日，杨利伟在第一个国家航天日上说道，航天器装备保存在中国空间站，为进入2022年正式运行做准备，以备国际项目和外国航天员使用。杨说，根据要求，中国将为其他国家训练航天员，并和欧洲航天站一起训练宇航员。"航空探索的未来源于国际合作。对我们是这样的，对美国也同样如此，"这位资深航天员说道。

His words were echoed by Zhou Jianping, chief engineer of China's manned space program. Zhou said, "It is well understood that the United States is a global leader in space technology. But China is no less ambitious in contributing to human development."

杨利伟的话引起了中国载人航天工程总设计师周建平的共鸣，周说道，"美国在航天科技方面居全球领先地位。但是中国在航天方面同样有为人类发展做出卓越贡献的雄心。"

"Cooperation between major space players will be conducive to the development of all mankind," Zhou added.

"几个重要航天国家间的合作为全人类的发展大有裨益，"周说道。

Citing security reasons, the U.S. Congress passed a law in 2011 to prohibit NASA from hosting Chinese visitors at its facilities and working with researchers affiliated to any Chinese government entity or enterprise. The ban remains in effect. The U.S.-dominated International Space Station, which unsurprisingly blocks China, is scheduled to end its service in 2024. China's space station could be the only operational one in outer space, at least for a while.

美国国会早在2011年立法禁止与中国进行任何形式的航天合作，禁止美国航空航天局一切设施"接待中国官方访问者"，拒绝中国参与由多国共建的国际空间站项目，至今没有改变。以美国为主导的国际航空站自然也是禁止和中国合作的，国际航空站计划在2024年终止服务。至少现在来说，中国航空总局是在外星领域探索的唯一一个国家。

Commenting on Sino-U.S. space relations earlier this week, Xu Dazhe, the head of China's National Space Administration, cites Hollywood sci-fi blockbuster "The Martian," in which a U.S. astronaut gets stranded on Mars and is eventually brought back to Earth by NASA, with help from China. Xu Dazhe noted that China and the United States established a special dialogue mechanism last year and talks would continue this year.

中国国家航天局局长许达哲近日提起在科幻大片《火星救援》中，航天员马克·沃特尼被困火星，最终在美国航天局和中国航天局的联合行动下回到地球。中国国家航天局局长许达哲近日提起这部电影，表示中美已于去年建立对话机制，计划今年在此基础上进行沟通。

For chief engineer Zhou, the movie simply reflects what most people want. "Many American astronauts and scientists that I have met said they would like to work with us, if given the freedom of choice."

周建平则笑着说："我也接触过一些美国航天界人士，《火星救援》反映的应该是民众的心声。"