The Soyuz spacecraft carried Romanian cosmonaut Prunariu for the first time 35 years ago. (Photo : Getty Images)
China’s openness to cooperate with other countries in terms of space missions impressed Dumitru-Dorin Prunariu, the first and only cosmonaut from Romania.
According to Prunariu, European astronauts are now spending their time studying the Chinese language, aside from space travel training, in preparation for the joint space missions with China.
Prunariu praised China's willingness to cooperate in space missions, as he himself celebrates the 35th anniversary of his first flight to space.
On Monday, the celebration was attended by 12 cosmonauts and astronauts from Russia, the United States, France, Germany, Britain, Hungary, Bulgaria and the Netherlands.
Aboard the Soviet spacecraft Soyuz, Prunariu traveled to space with Leonid Popov from the Soviet Union. When they arrived at the Salyut 6 Space Station, Prunariu conducted 14 scientific experiments in various fields, including biology, medicine and astrophysics.
According to a report by the Global Times, Prunariu was involved in the administration of the European Space Agency (ESA) after his successful mission in May 1981.
In 2014, he was given the position as the vice chairman of the International Relations Committee.
The Romanian cosmonaut also became the European-wing president of a professional organization for astronauts called the Association of Space Explorers (ASE).
"China is a huge cosmic power . . . it has the highest level of development in space technology," said Prunariu. "It can launch satellites, and is currently building its own orbital space station."
He further stated that the key to achieve success in space is international cooperation.
During the commemorative event, Prunariu expressed his ideology that the space is a place where countries can join hands and aim for peace, as well as the protection of the Earth.
