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The core module of China's space station has been launched.
Ning Hong has more:
A Long March 5B rocket lifted off from Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Center in Hainan Province on Thursday Morning, carrying the core module of the Tianhe space station.
This is the biggest space craft that China has ever built. The Tianhe Module is over 16 meters long and weighs over 22 tons.
It has three parts — a living and control cabin, a resource cabin, and a node cabin.
And after liftoff, the core module will be deployed in a low earth orbit. This effort will require a high degree of accuracy from the rocket alone, as adjustments in speed or position will not be possible.
And one of the key processes up next will be the successful unfolding of the module's flexible solar panel, which will provide power for the station.
Today's launch marks the beginning of the assembly of China's space station in orbit. There are two more modules to be launched and attached to the core module. Both of them will serve as laboratories.
When completed, it's expected to be operational for years to come, supporting science and China's long-term space ambitions.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang says China stands ready to work with Germany to promote the bilateral relationship to a higher level.
He made the remarks in Beijing when co-chairing the sixth China-Germany inter-governmental consultation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel via video link.
He has called on China and Germany to enhance cooperation, promote fair and equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, and reject vaccine nationalism.
He says China stands ready to work with the E.U. to jointly promote the signing and entry into force of the China-EU investment agreement.
Merkel says Germany advocates opening-up and cooperation and opposes protectionism.
The two sides also signed bilateral cooperation documents involving climate response, health, food safety, and more.
Almost all regions in China registered double-digit economic growth in the first quarter of the year, placing the country's economic recovery on a solid track.
Provincial-level areas on the Chinese mainland have released their regional growth results, which were all above 12 percent year-on-year.
Hubei province, which includes Wuhan, the area that was hardest hit at the beginning of the pandemic, had the strongest growth rebound, up by 58 percent from last year.
Hainan had the second strongest growth rate at nearly 20 percent, followed by Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Anhui, Guangdong and Jiangxi with growth above the national average of 18 percent.
Chinese authorities have rolled out an online shopping festival to boost consumption in Beijing.
The event has been jointly organized by the Ministry of Commerce, the Beijing Municipal government and China Media Group.
The annual event will run till the end of this year, and 10 billion yuan, or roughly 1.5 billion U.S. dollars, worth of coupons will be distributed to residents in Beijing.
Tokyo Olympic organizers and the IOC are pushing ahead with plans to open the postponed Olympics in just under three months, unveiling the latest set of playbooks to show how the games can be held during a pandemic.
IOC President Thomas Bach says he stands with Japan to take all necessary measures for Japanese people to feel safe during the games.
According to the playbooks, competitors will have daily Covid-19 tests at this summer's Olympics.
Those travelling from outside Japan will be given a phone with apps for health reporting and contact tracing.
