Chinese President Hu Jintao had a brief meeting with three taikonauts, who are going to board the country's third manned spacecraft Shenzhou-7, on Thursday and wished them success in the mission.

"I am here to see you off on behalf of the Party Central Committee, the State Council and the Central Military Commission as well as people of all Chinese nationalities," Hu told taikonauts Zhai Zhigang, Liu Boming and Jing Haipeng, who greeted Hu from behind a glass shield

"During the mission, you will carry out China's first extravehicular activity (EVA) with homemade EVA space suit, which is a great leap for China's space technology," Hu said at a brief see-off ceremony held at the launch center.

"With strong support of the whole nation, thorough preparations of various sectors, rigorous training and sophisticated skills of yourselves, I believe you will have a complete success in this glorious and sacred mission," Hu said.

"The motherland and people are waiting for your triumphant return," Hu said.

On behalf of the three taikonauts, Zhai thanked Hu and said they had full confidence in fulfilling the mission.

The Shenzhou-7 will blast off from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China later Thursday. The launch window was set between 9:07 PM to 10:27 PM (1307 GMT to 1427 GMT).

China's manned space program are being carried out in three stages, which will culminate in the establishment of a permanent space station.

In the first stage of the program, China has sent unmanned spacecraft and a manned spacecraft into near-earth orbit, conducting observations of the earth and scientific experiments in space, and bringing the astronaut safely back to the earth.

The launch of Shenzhou-7 spacecraft featuring China's first attempt of spacewalk is seen as an important step of the program's second stage.

(Xinhua News Agency September 25, 2008)