China's 15th Five-Year Plan establishes the space sector as an emerging pillar industry, setting a clear course toward the goal of becoming a space power. CGTN's Chen Yilin spoke with NPC deputy Sun Zezhou, a researcher at the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, about the country's deep-space exploration and its contribution to the world.

CHEN YILIN CGTN "Great to have you with us. What does China's exploration journey, from the Moon to Mars, contribute to the world?"

SUN ZEZHOU NPC Deputy China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation "The Tianwen-1 mission achieved key technological breakthroughs, including long-distance communications and entry through Mars's extremely thin atmosphere. It also delivered major scientific results, producing global images of Mars with a 76-meter resolution, offering new insights on its magnetic field and geological features. All of Tianwen-1's scientific data is publicly available to researchers worldwide. Scientists can also apply to study lunar samples collected by China. China's missions have also carried international payloads, offering opportunities for global collaboration. We hope these achievements can be shared with all of humanity and advance space science collectively."

CHEN YILIN CGTN "China's commercial space sector has been developing rapidly in recent years. How do you view this trend?"

SUN ZEZHOU NPC Deputy China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation "Commercial space was highlighted in the Government Work Reports in both 2024 and 2025. I see it as an important part of the overall space sector. The development of the space industry is not only about advancing technology, but also about creating new application scenarios."

CHEN YILIN CGTN "What new milestones or developments can we expect in China's future?"

SUN ZEZHOU NPC Deputy China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation "As outlined in the Government Work Report, the Tianwen-2 mission begins its journey to collect and return samples from near-Earth asteroids. Over the next five to eight years, we expect the Tianwen-3 mission to bring back samples from Mars, and Tianwen-4 will explore Jupiter. Looking further ahead to 2035, the 15th Five-Year Plan emphasizes early planning for major national science and technology projects and proposes advancing the second phase of the planetary exploration program. International cooperation will continue, with opportunities for international payloads on future missions. The plan brings both new opportunities and new responsibilities for China's space development."