Chief designer of China's manned space program Wang Yongzhi said Monday morning the successful flight of the nation's second manned spacecraft indicated Chinese scientists have mastered the technology for multi-person, multi-day space mission.

This is of "great importance" to the country's manned space program in the next step, Wang said after the safe landing of the re-entry capsule of the craft, which was launched Wednesday morning.

(Xinhua News Agency October 17, 2005)