Kyrgyzstan joins lunar research station project

BEIJING. March 7 (Interfax) - Kyrgyzstan has signed a memorandum of mutual understanding with China to join the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) project, the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory said on Thursday.

According to the space agency, a delegation from Kyrgyzstan's Arabayev University visited the laboratory and met with its director, Wu Weiren, who presented China's plans for exploring the Moon and deep space, as well as the ILRS project.

"After the meeting, the sides signed a memorandum of cooperation in the ILRS project," the laboratory said.

Besides Russia and China, the ILRS project involves Azerbaijan, Belarus, the UAE, Pakistan, Venezuela, South Africa, the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization, and the Swiss company Nano-SPACE.