China plans to land astronauts on the moon before 2030, as part of a new space race with the US, which aims to put astronauts back on the lunar surface by the end of 2025.
China's goal was confirmed by the Deputy Director of the Chinese Manned Space Agency, who also announced plans to expand its orbiting crewed space station with an additional module.
China's first manned space mission was completed in 2003, making it the third country to put a person into space.
Space is now seen as a new area of competition between China and the US, with both countries planning to send astronauts to the moon and beyond.
China's plans include landing astronauts on the moon, with the aim of extracting water from permanently shadowed craters, and building permanent crewed bases on the lunar surface.
The US plans to send astronauts to the moon's south pole, where permanently shadowed craters are believed to contain frozen water.
China has limited its cooperation with foreign space programs, but plans to continue with its lunar program and missions to other planets.
China's first manned space mission was completed in 2003, making it the third country to put a person into space.
Space is now seen as a new area of competition between China and the US, with both countries planning to send astronauts to the moon and beyond.
China's plans include landing astronauts on the moon, with the aim of extracting water from permanently shadowed craters, and building permanent crewed bases on the lunar surface.
The US plans to send astronauts to the moon's south pole, where permanently shadowed craters are believed to contain frozen water.
China has limited its cooperation with foreign space programs, but plans to continue with its lunar program and missions to other planets.