(Chinese President Hu Jintao confers the medals of "Space Flight Achievement" to Shenzhou VI astronauts Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng at the Great Hall of the People on November 26, 2005, in Beijing.)

China holds at 10:00 on Saturday a grand gathering at the Great Hall of the People to mark the great success of Shenzhou VI manned space mission.

The Shenzhou VI mission in mid-October was the country's first ever multi-person and multi-day manned space mission that proved to be perfectly successful.Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao announced a decision to award Chinese Taikonauts Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng, who flew the Shenzhou VI spaceship, with the title of "Hero Taikonaut" and the medals of "Space Flight Achievement".

The premier said that the successful manned mission of Shenzhou VI has displayed the great creativity spirit and excellent innovation capability of the Chinese nation.

The success of Shenzhou VI mission is of great significance in enhancing overall national strength, accelerating the development of science and technology and bracing the spirit of the Chinese nation.Top Chinese leaders are expected to meet two astronauts who orbited the earth aboard Shenzhou-VI and professionals and officials involved in the space program at the Great Hall of the People.

Shenzhou VI lifted off on a Long March 2F carrier rocket from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on Oct. 12 for a five-day mission carrying astronauts Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng.

Having two crew on board is a departure from October 2003, when Yang Liwei spent 21 hours on a s mission that made China only the third country after the United States and former Soviet Union to achieve the feat.

(Source: Xinhua)