Putin congratulates Chinese Chairman Hu Jintao on first space flight

Vladimir Putin has sent a congratulatory message to Chinese Chairman Hu Jintao on the occasion of the first space flight by the Chinese cosmonaut.

A RIA Novosti correspondent was told in the press service of the Russian President that the message in part runs:

"Accept my sincere congratulations on the historic event in the life of China - the first space flight by the Chinese cosmonaut. This is a worthy and great result of the many-year work of the Chinese people, of the successful advance of your country along the path of an all-round development and becoming an up-to-date world power." "We are confident that the full and equal presence of China in the family of the space powers will contribute to the cause of preserving peace, safety and stability in the world, to the development of science and technology, and to the progress of the world civilisation.

"Russian-Chinese co-operation in the space sphere is an important area of bilateral relations. It is going on successfully, has good prospects and will undoubtedly bring new fruits for the benefit of the peoples of our countries," points out the congratulatory message.

The Russian President also asked the Chinese leader to send "congratulations and good wishes to all those who have made their contribution to the creation of the manned spaceship, and of course to the first Chinese cosmonaut."