Chinese President Jiang Zemin sent a congratulatory message on Thursday to the China Research Institute of Space Technology on its 35th anniversary.
Jiang expressed his appreciation of the institute's achievements and the dedication of its staff to China's space cause.
The institute, affiliated to the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp., has developed four unmanned spacecraft, all of which have been launched successfully. Currently it is constructing Shenzhou V, China's first attempt at manned space flight.
Jiang said he hoped the institute would continue to contribute to and make breakthroughs in the country's space program.
The institute has developed and launched more than 50 satellites for remote sensing, telecommunications, meteorology, earth resources and navigation.
The institute boasts advanced technologies in the retrieval of satellites, single-rocket multiple satellites, telecommunication satellites, remote sensing satellites and manned space flight.
More than 2,000 new technologies developed by the institute have been widely applied in Chinese industry.
(China Daily February 21, 2003)
