SPACE WIRE
UN's Annan meets China's man in space
UNITED NATIONS (AFP) May 19, 2004
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on Wednesday hailed China's space programme as he met the country's first-ever astronaut, Yang Liwei.

Yang brought Annan a UN flag that flew with him when he orbited the Earth 14 times in October, putting China alongside the United States and the former Soviet Union as the only countries in the world to send a man into space.

"I think the fact that he took a UN flag with him and then brought it back to this headquarters is a sign of great importance," Annan said.

He called Liwei's mission a "great achievement" that had been watched by people around the world.

"Space travel always excites the imagination. We in this organisation have taken a very keen interest in space, particularly in the peaceful uses of outer space," Annan said.

"I would want to wish China greater success in its space exploration and to thank you and the government for this sign of solidarity with the peoples of the world," he said.

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