Last month, China surprised the world by announcing that it might be opening its space program to foreign astronauts and multinational collaboration.

The announcement came in mid-September, when Yang Liwei (deputy director of the China Manned Space Agency) claimed the Chinese government was considering taking foreign astronauts on future missions as well as providing training.

These remarks came at the United Nations/China Workshop on Human Space Technology, where a total of 150 participants from more than 20 nations and regions were in attendance.

During the conference, new space projects were discussed, such as microgravity research, international cooperation, and education for the public. In a report filed with China Daily, Yang said on behalf of the agency that:

“We would like to train astronauts from other countries and organizations that have such a demand, and we would be glad to provide trips to foreign astronauts.We will also welcome foreign astronauts who…