China's landmark spacewalk mission concludes successfully

Three astronauts who undertook China's maiden spacewalk returned to Earth today with Premier Wen Jiabao declaring the feat as a "monumental achievement" for the nation's ambitious military-managed space programme.

The Shenzhou-7 space module carrying the three astronauts landed safely by parachute in northern China's Inner Mongolia grassland.

Astronauts Zhai Zhigang, Liu Boming, and Jing Haipeng returned from a 68-hour flight, which included a 20-minute spacewalk yesterday.

"It was a glorious mission, full of challenges with a perfect result. I'm proud of my country," said a beaming Zhai, China's first-ever space-walker, after emerging from the module.

"Before I took off, I told you the Chinese taikonauts are the best. Thank the motherland and the people," Liu was quoted as saying by the state-run Xinhua news agency.

Jing said, "We could feel the care of the country and people while in the abysmal space. Now we have safely returned."

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, who was at the Beijing ground control centre to watch the landing, declared that the mission was "a victory of the Chinese space and technological field and a monumental achievement in the Socialist causes".

"Your historical feat will be remembered by the country and the people," Wen said, delivering a congratulatory note from the Chinese leadership.

The three taikonauts (as astronauts are known in China) were examined by doctors and adapted themselves to the gravitation on the Earth before exiting the module.