Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) holds talks with Moussa Faki Mahamat, chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Jan. 4, 2019. (Xinhua/Zhang Yu)
ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- The chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, has congratulated China on the successful landing of the Chang'e-4 lunar probe on the far side of the moon.
The chairperson of the bloc of 55 member states made the remarks on Friday during his meeting with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the AU headquarters in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa.
"I would like to express my warm congratulations on the successful landing of the Chinese Chang'e-4 lunar probe on the far side of the moon yesterday," the Chairperson said.
"For humans, the moon is out of reach, but with its super-scientific capabilities, China has successfully achieved this landing event, making history," he added.
Reiterating that Africa, a friend of China, is happy about the successful event that China has already made, Faki expressed the hope that African countries would strengthen cooperation with China in science and technological innovation.
Launched on Dec. 8, 2018, the Chang'e-4 lunar probe, comprising a lander and a rover, landed on the far side of the moon on Thursday morning.
