The first spacewalk of the Chinese crew onboard the Shenzhou VII spacecraft has started on Saturday when the astronaut Zhai Zhigang left the craft's orbital module at 4:39 pm (0839 GMT).

"I am here greeting the Chinese people and people of the whole world," the astronaut told mission control in Beijing.

After he was free of the module, fellow astronaut Liu Boming handed Zhai a Chinese flag, which Zhai waved as Earth floated in the background.

He made China the third nation to conduct a spacewalk after the United States and Russia. The three countries are also the only ones to have conducted manned space missions.

Chinese President Hu Jintao watched Zhai's manoeuvres at the mission control centre in the capital.

Chinese officialdom hailed on Saturday the country's first spacewalk as another reason for national "pride and joy," along with the successful conclusion of the 2008 Olympic Games.
The official party organ the People's Daily said that Saturday's spacewalk by astronaut Zhai Zhigang was further evidence of the "nation's continuing technical capabilities," and added that "the small step" by Zhai was "a historic leap in Chinese dreams of space travel."

However, the People's Daily did call for circumspection on the part of Chinese, saying that eventhough the country had now left its "footprint in the universe," the gap between China and the likes of the US and Russia could not be overlooked.
Although Zhai's manoeuvres represented the 298th spacewalk of all time, it was a milestone for China, whose president, Hu Jintao, watched it at the mission control centre in Beijing, where applause broke out as Zhai floated out of the spacecraft.

During his mission, Zhai, 42, has tested his 120-kilogram, Chinese-made protective suit and perform tasks including the retrieval of a 3-kilogram solid lubricant experiment from the rear of Shenzhou VII.

Liu Boming, wearing a Russian spacesuit, assisted Zhai in exiting the orbiter while the third and final astronaut on the mission, Jing Haiping, remained in the re-entry module.

The crew had spent more than 11 hours Friday unpacking and assembling the suits and then underwent 100 minutes of training to get used to the get-ups.

On Thursday, China successfully completed the launch of its Shenzhou VII spacecraft from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the desert of northwest China's Gansu province. It is the country’s third manned spaceflight and it will include its first ever extra-vehicular activity.

The launch was broadcasted live on state television, as the country is looking to promote its space program and show the growing confidence in such manned space activities. People everywhere were very excited to witness the event, being extremely proud of the country’s achievements. President Hu Jintao also made an appearance, addressing the crew and wishing them nothing but success. "You will definitely accomplish this glorious and sacred mission. The motherland and the people are looking forward to your triumphant return," Hu told the three astronauts.

The country’s last manned mission took place in 2005, two years after its first manned launch. The efforts for improving the Chinese space program have intensified in the past few years and there are many plans for the future. Zhang Bainan, the chief designer of the spacecraft system of China's manned space program, told Xinhua that China will soon begin the mass production of its Shenzhou (Divine Vessel) spacecraft starting from Shenzhou VIII, which will be used as a shuttle for transports between China’s space station and the headquarters, but also for astronauts and cargo for other countries.

The main difference between Shenzhou VII and Shenzhou VIII will consist in a comfier design for the interior, leaving everything else pretty much the same. Also, "The mass production would also allow intensive launch in a short period of time," said Mr. Bainan.

To fill the roles of future astronauts, there will be a new round of astronaut selection after the completion of the current mission, stated Chen Shanguang, director of the China Astronaut Research and Training Center. There are also plans for including female astronauts in the program, but nothing definite has been established yet.

The mission is giving China much confidence as its developing endeavor for the stars grows into maturity. "Many standards have already been set and there has been strong support from society as a whole," says Yang Liwei, the first Chinese man to be put into space back in 2003.