United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Wednesday extended his warm congratulations to China on its successful launch of a manned spacecraft.

"The secretary-general extends his warm congratulations to the People's Republic of China on its first (manned) mission into space, and hopes for the safe and successful completion of this maiden voyage," UN spokesman Fred Eckhard, on behalf of Annan, read a statement at the noon briefing on Wednesday.

"He notes that as the exploration of space knows no national borders, the mission of the Shenzhou V is a step forward for all humankind," said the statement.

(Xinhua News Agency October 16, 2003)