Vice Premier Huang Ju Tuesday praised the defense industry for sending the first Chinese astronaut into orbit, and urged it to make new contributions to the nation.

The manned space mission, which has enhanced China's international status, should be used as a turning point for the defense industry to make more contributions and add glory to the modernization of national defense and the development of the national economy, said Huang who is also member of the Standing Committee of Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

Huang said at the ongoing work conference of the defense science industry that China's defense industry is experiencing rapid growth, achieving greater economic returns and becoming stronger as a whole.

He called for new efforts to meet the demand for the modernization of China's armed forces and the development of major civilian high technologies.

(Xinhua News Agency January 7, 2004)