China's first astronaut presents Annan with UN flag carried on space mission

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today met with China's first astronaut, who presented the UN leader with a flag of the world body that he took with him on his mission.

Congratulating China for its first successful manned space flight, the Secretary-General told a small delegation that included Beijing's Ambassador to the UN, Wang Guangya, and Col. Yang Liwei, the astronaut, that it was a "great achievement" watched by all the Chinese people and people around the world.

"Space travel always excites the imagination," the Secretary-General said upon receiving the UN flag from Colonel Yang. "We in this organization have taken a very keen interest in space, particularly in the peaceful uses of outer space."