President greets orbiting astronauts

Space station's construction 'a milestone' for nation, he tells mission's 3-man crew

President Xi Jinping encouraged the astronauts on board the core module of China's space station to work closely to accomplish their tasks, as he spoke with the crew members on Wednesday morning via video link.

Speaking from the Beijing Aerospace Control Center in a northwestern suburb of the capital, Xi said it was a delight to see that the three astronauts on board the module－Major General Nie Haisheng as mission commander, Major General Liu Boming and Senior Colonel Tang Hongbo－were in good condition and the work was progressing well.

The president, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, extended greetings on behalf of the top authorities and the Chinese people. "We all care about you very much," Xi said.