Maduro says Venezuelan astronauts could go to Moon in Chinese spaceship
The Hindu
China, Venezuela agree to send astronauts to Moon; Nicolas Maduro hails 'splendid era' of cooperation. China and Venezuela agree to send astronauts to Moon, with Maduro hailing a "splendid era" of cooperation. The two countries have signed an agreement to train Venezuelan astronauts in China, with plans to eventually send them to the Moon.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said his country could send its first astronauts to the Moon in a Chinese spacecraft, hailing on Thursday a scientific cooperation agreement he reached with President Xi Jinping.
Maduro, whose oil-rich country is in profound economic crisis, has been in China since last week. In Beijing on Wednesday, he met with Xi, with the pair agreeing to "upgrade" ties between their governments.
Maduro announced during his meeting with Xi on Wednesday that the two countries had agreed to train young Venezuelan astronauts in China, with plans to eventually send them to the Moon.
A special task team "on scientific, technological, industrial and aerospace cooperation will sooner rather than later (send) the first Venezuelan man and woman to the moon in a Chinese spacecraft", Maduro said.
Also Read: China upgrades relationship with Venezuela to 'all weather' partnership
"Very soon, Venezuelan youth will come here to prepare as astronauts in Chinese schools," he said.
China is pursuing plans to send a crewed mission to the Moon by 2030 and build a base there.
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