China space boss to meet NASA chief

The head of the Chinese National Space Agency is to hold talks with his NASA counterpart in a move that could open the way to cooperation between China and the US in space exploration. The meeting between Sun Laiyan and NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe has been scheduled for early December. O'Keefe described the meeting as an opportunity for the two to exchange views and learn about the plans of their respective space agencies. Recently Chinese space scientists were among representatives from 15 nations to attend a NASA-sponsored space workshop in Washington. There has been growing speculation that China could be invited to join an international effort to pursue US President George W Bush's goal of returning astronauts to the moon and eventually sending humans to Mars.