China's State Council's Information Office and Space Administration, have released the "White Paper on China's Space Activities in 2016". The press conference held earlier today, introduced China's space development throughout the past year.

China issues white paper on space activities

The paper offers a brief introduction on the development and major achievements that China has made in the field of space exploration since 2011. It goes on to outline the main tasks set for the next five years, alongside other policies and goals for international exchanges and cooperation efforts. It states that China has always adhered to the principle of peaceful space exploration, adding that the nation opposes the use of weapons or an arms race in outer space.

As for future major projects, China will launch the Chang'e-4 lunar probe in 2018, with hopes of achieving mankind's first soft landing on the far side of the moon. Plans to launch the country's first Mars probe are set for 2020, which will carry out orbiting and roving exploration. China also plans to further develop and form the BeiDou Network by 2020, which consists of 35 satellites, providing global navigation services. And, a heavy-lift launch vehicle project is set to be activated within the next five years.

Officials from the Space Administration also added that China will hold an open stance when it comes to foreign investment in its space exploration industry.

"On foreign investment, a negative list, very few limited. Can invest on satellite...and so on. Welcome both international and domestic investment," Wu Yanhua, deputy administrator of China National Space Administration, said.