Shenzhou-18 mission commander Ye Guangfu, who set a new record after becoming the first Chinese astronaut to spend more than a year in orbit during his two space missions, shared his pride in carrying out another "sacred mission" while pursuing his spaceflight dreams.
After completing a 192-day stay in space as part of the Shenzhou-18 crew, Ye has now spent a cumulative total of 375 days in orbit - the most for any Chinese astronaut.
Meeting the press in Beijing on Wednesday with the other two Shenzhou-18 crew members, Li Cong and Li Guangsu, Ye reflected on the changes he has observed in China's space program.
"The first change for me is transitioning from exploration to coming home, feeling more warmth and inner peace. The Shenzhou-13 mission marked my initial venture and exploration into space, which filled me with excitement and pride. However, the Shenzhou-18 mission felt more like returning home, back to our space home, with familiar surroundings and a comforting sense of family," said Ye. Ye also highlighted the evolution of the space station itself.
"The second change is our space home's expansion from a single module to a three-module configuration. The environment is more comfortable, but the tasks are more complex. Compared to my previous mission, this one operated in a fully configured, full-mission mode. The module structure, the interior environment, the in-orbit tasks, and the mission modes have all seen significant expansion and improvement. The space station is larger, the environment more comfortable, and there are more opportunities and platforms for scientific experiments," he said.
Reflecting on his personal growth, Ye added, "The third change is my role, from the No.3 astronaut to the commander of Shenzhou-18. The role has shifted, and the responsibility is greater."
Despite these changes, some things remained constant, said Ye.
"What hasn't changed, I believe, is the sacred mission we shoulder, our solemn commitment to the space program, and our unwavering pursuit of the dream of spaceflight," Ye stressed.
Shenzhou-18 mission commander shares pride in pursuing spaceflight dream
Shenzhou-18 mission commander shares pride of pursuing spaceflight dream
Experts said that the farming-friendly measures outlined in the annual government work report will not only motivate farmers to increase grain production but also encourage local governments to place greater emphasis on agriculture and invest more in the sector.
China has raised its grain output target for 2025 to an all time high of over 700 million metric tons, according to the annual government work report.
"Improving the system designed to benefit and enrich grain farmers is a way to support them. For local governments in major grain-producing regions, it's important to establish a coordinated mechanism for inter-provincial compensation led by the central government. This is expected to be implemented this year, ensuring that both grain farmers and local governments in these areas benefit from their efforts to focus on grain production. This is a priority," said Hu Xiangdong, director of the Institute of Agricultural Economics and Development under the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences.
To reach the target, experts highlighted, priority should be given to promoting integrated technologies in the agricultural sector, alongside upgrading related infrastructure and facilities. These measures are expected to boost per unit yield of grain.
"By developing high-standard farmland, advancing facility agriculture, and improving related equipment, we can strengthen our disaster prevention and mitigation capabilities. The key to increasing yield per unit is effectively combining the application of integrated technology with improvements in agricultural conditions, such as production in high-standard farmland," said Li Guoxiang, a research fellow at the Institute of Rural Development of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
Moreover, the government work report this year also outlined plans to stabilize grain prices, a key concern for farmers, and ensure that the prices of major agricultural products remain within a reasonable range.
"Recently, grain prices have stabilized and started to rise, while livestock and poultry product prices have remained steady. This is encouraging news for farmers. By maintaining reasonable prices, farmers can better benefit from growing grain and engaging in agricultural production," Li said.
Experts applaud farming-friendly measures outlined in government work report
