The lunar orbiter Chang'e-1 blasted off on board a Long March 3A carrier rocket at 6:05 pm (local time), as it began its journey to explore and map the moon's surface. Chang'e-1, named after a mythical Chinese goddess who flew to the moon, is expected to enter the earth-moon transfer orbit on October 31 and arrive in the moon's orbit on November five.
Chinese President Hu Jintao was re-elected as the General Secretary of the ruling Communist Party of China for a successive five-year term on Monday. Hu won the fresh mandate from the newly elected CPC's 17th Central Committee after its first plenum in Beijing on Monday morning.
"Indian business is ready to face the brave new world of globalisation. China is an important part of that brave new world. We must engage China and learn to both compete and cooperate," Singh, who began a three-day maiden visit here, said at a brainstorming session with the business delegation accompanying him, ahead of the Sino-Indian business summit on Monday.
The Prime Minister, who advanced his departure to avoid Delhi fog, will utilise the time for making a visit to the Olympic games stadium and a meeting with Indian businessmen for a briefing on issues that would come up during his discussions with the Chinese leadership on the economic side.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Friday met Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao with both leaders taking note of the steadily growing ties between the two countries.
Describing her ongoing visit to China as a milestone in Sino-Indian relations, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Friday said that she was 'amazed and astounded' at the progress made by the neighbouring country. Gandhi's first political engagement, on the second day of her five-day visit, was a meeting with Wang Jiarui, the Minister of the International Department of the ruling Communist Party of China. Wang told her, "Your visit has captured the world's attention."
An expected stormy run in Asia for the Beijing Olympic flame on Monday prompted Pakistan to promise security worthy of a head of state to the torch, as it made a last-minute change in the route for the relay marred by anti-China protests. The Olympic torch will arrive in Islamabad early on April 16 from Muscat, and it will be taken to New Delhi later the same day.
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