China 'always open' to space exchanges with U.S.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning. (Photo/fmprc.gov.cn)

China said on Thursday that it is always open to space exchanges and cooperation with the United States, and called on the U.S. to clear obstacles to such exchanges and cooperation.

The remarks were made by Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning who acknowledged the attention and recognition the Chang'e 6 mission has received from many countries.

The ascender of Chang'e 6 probe lifted off from the lunar surface on Tuesday, carrying the first ever collection of samples from the far side of the moon. It is reported that NASA Administrator Bill Nelson's extended his congratulations on the success of the mission.

China and the U.S. established the working group on Earth science and space science cooperation and the China-U.S. civil space dialogue, Mao said.

At the U.S.' request, authorities of the two countries also established a mechanism to exchange orbit data on each other's Mars probes, the spokeswoman said.

China-U.S. space cooperation, however, is facing difficulties due to the U.S. domestic legislation, such as the Wolf Amendment, Mao said.

"If the U.S. truly wants to push forward space exchanges and cooperation with China, it needs to take concrete steps to remove these obstacles," the spokeswoman said.