¡¡¡¡ BEIJING, Oct. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- "I am proud of being a Chinese," said Lu Xiaodong after watching the TV showing the safe return of China's first manned spaceship early Thursday morning.

¡¡¡¡"The success of the space flight means China has edged into the world's foremost ranks in space exploration. It's yet another evidence of the growing comprehensive strength of our country," said Lu, a PhD student at the Northwest China Industry University in Shaanxi Province.

¡¡¡¡As the success was announced, all the students watching the TV program burst into violent applause and shouts.

¡¡¡¡Tidings kept coming in from Inner Mongolia, Gansu, Yunnan, Beijing, Shandong and other parts of the country, reporting spontaneous celebrations with people turning out in crowds, singing and dancing and setting off firecrackers.

¡¡¡¡"The success of the mission is a great boost to the spirit and morale of the 1.3 billion Chinese people," said Song Yunchang, deputy general manager of the China Great Wall Lubricant Company, which produces the lubricant and sealing agents for the Shenzhou-5spacecraft. "In a sense, 'Shenzhou' is the brand name of China's space technology. Now the brand is known all over the world."

¡¡¡¡Cui Erjie, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a space expert, said that the Chinese people have every reasonto rejoice over the event.

¡¡¡¡"The success of the space flight embodies the successes of a number of branches of sciences and technology in the country, including electronics and structural materials. In this sense, thelaunch of Shenzhou-5 showcases the advance of China's science and technology in general," said Cui.

¡¡¡¡Chao Yang, an undergraduate of the Kunming Science and Technology University in Yunnan Province, said he and his classmates have been greatly elated at the news.

¡¡¡¡"All of us should learn patriotism and heroism and excellent qualities displayed by our 'taikonaut' Yang Liwei," said Chao.

¡¡¡¡Song Xing, a lecturer of psychology, said the China's first successful space mission has given a tremendous impetus to China'syoung people and the nation as a whole.

¡¡¡¡"It serves as a source of great encouragement to the young people in daring to make adventures, in cultivating a love for science and technology and in nurturing a pioneering spirit. Besides, it has taught them that success comes from perseverance, strong will power and tough practice," Song said.

¡¡¡¡Zhao Chen, a student at Beijing's Jingshan High School, said the successful space mission has inspired keen interests in space science among his classmates.

¡¡¡¡Actually, more than 90 percent of the students in Beijing's primary and high schools are familiar with the country's first manned space flight mission.

¡¡¡¡"China's space program is sure to have a ceaseless stream of successors," said Zhao, who was involved in a silkworm experiment done on a US space shuttle in July 2002.

¡¡¡¡He suggested that scientific research institutions should get more and more high school students involved in their projects so as to increase their understanding of and develop stronger interest in science and technology, by which China relies to invigorate the nation," he said. Enditem