Beijing advances space ambitions with far-side moon landing

'Made in China 2025' receives another boost following homegrown GPS

An image of China's Chang'e 4 craft is shown on the screen of the control center in Beijing. (Xinhua/Kyodo)

SHUNSUKE TABETA, Nikkei staff writer

January 4, 2019 02:09 JST

BEIJING -- China became the first country to make a soft landing on the far side of the moon Thursday, bolstering its signature "Made in China 2025" initiative and taking a major step toward becoming the world's third space power along with the U.S. and Russia by 2030.