Over 3,000 residents in China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) signed their names on a congratulations letter to China's first successful launch of manned spaceship Wednesday.

The congratulations campaign initiated by the General Union of the Macao Neighborhood Associations received a warm response from local residents.

Ung Si Meng, chairman of the association, said that the historical launch of Shenzhou V Spaceship has made China the third country in the world to send a man into the space, which is a pride of the nation. Macao compatriots are overwhelmed with the happiness to witness the great achievement made by the motherland in space technology.

Ma Man Kei, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and chairman of China's Chamber of Commerce, made a poem hailing for the great achievement made in a prosperous era of the nation.

Ieong Wan Chong, senior advisor to the Rector of the University of Macao, said that the advance in space technology has manifested China's comprehensive economic might, which will surely lead to more scientific fruits.

"We knew that the time of China's manned spaceship launch would come sooner or later, but when the time finally came, we were still overjoyed with tears in eyes," said Xu Aoao, rector of the Macao University of Science and Technology.

(Xinhua News Agency October 16, 2003)