The rare visit by foreign reporters was allowed as China is keen to gain access to the International Space Station and other joint projects and assuage fears that its space programme is driven by military needs.

• 这种容许外国记者参观的做法是罕见的，这是因为中国渴求加入世界航天站，参加其他的国际合作项目，以及为了缓和世界对其航天计划用于军事目的的恐惧。