Venezuela to send first astronaut to the Moon on Chinese spacecraft

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 17th China-Venezuela Cooperation Committee in Beijing, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro affirmed that the appearance of his country's first astronaut on the Moon would be the clearest proof of the cooperation of the China-Venezuela Science , Technology, Industry and Aerospace Cooperation Committee.

“In recent talks we discussed with Chinese space agencies how Venezuelan youth could be trained to become future astronauts through centers in China,” Maduro said.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro during talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on September 13. (Photo: Agencia EFE)

The Venezuelan leader added that the results of the work of the bilateral cooperation committee and the state visit to China on September 13 have created conditions to start a new phase of cooperation between the two sides in the post-COVID-19 era, addressing the challenges of the times and marked by growth and development.

President Maduro also said that an agreement to connect Venezuela and China by air will be signed. Conviasa Airlines is ready to open direct flights to China “ so that the Chinese can come to Venezuela, to our beaches, our forests and our mountains,” he said.

The Venezuelan leader added that new agreements on Venezuelan food exports to China, cooperation on critical communications infrastructure, digital economy and tourism development are important bilateral achievements between the two countries.

Mr. Maduro arrived in Beijing on September 12 after a tour of Shanghai and other Chinese cities.

The Venezuelan leader held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on September 13.

President Maduro said during a meeting with the Chinese leader that the two countries agreed to train young Venezuelan astronauts in China with plans to eventually send them to the moon.

During the talks, the two leaders of China and Venezuela also announced upgrading bilateral relations to an all-weather strategic partnership.

All-weather strategic partnership is a Chinese term reserved for a select few diplomatic partners.

One of the countries that China has a similar partnership with is Pakistan.

Tra Khanh (Source: Sputnik)

Source