Chinese leaders Saturday honored two astronauts who orbited the earth aboard Shenzhou-VI for five days last month with medals and honorary titles.

President Hu Jintao presented metals and achievement certificates to Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng in army green at a gathering to mark the successful mission in the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing.

The title of "Hero Astronaut" and the medals of "Space Flight Achievement" were designed to honor the two astronauts' achievements during the Shenzhou VI spaceflight, China's first ever multi-person and multi-day manned space mission.

Prior to the presentation of the honors, Premier Wen Jiabao read out the decision by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the State Council, and the Central Military Commission (CMC) to give the honors to the two astronauts.

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

The success of Shenzhou VI mission is of great significance in enhancing the overall national strength, accelerating the growth of science and technology and bracing the spirit of the Chinese nation, said the premier.

About 3,000 people, including senior leaders of the Party, the State and the Chinese military, attended the meeting held by the CPC Central Commission, the State Council and CMC.

Addressing the gathering after the presentation, Hu voiced his heartfelt thanks to the people of various ethnic groups across China, including people in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and overseas Chinese, for their support and care for the country's space undertaking.

He also extended his thanks to foreign friends that showed care and attention to China's space undertaking.

"The fact that China had accomplished the great jump from one-person-one-day space flight to multi-person-multi-day space mission within two years has marked a new landmark victory in China's manned space technology," he acknowledged.

Hu described the successful space mission as a "song of triumph" in the course of the Chinese nation's revitalization and another important contribution by the Chinese people to the peaceful use of outer space.

All the Chinese people feel extraordinary pride and honor about that, he said.

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

Chinese astronaut Yang Liwei spent 21 hours in space aboard Shenzhou V two years ago, becoming the first Chinese in space and the mission made China only the third country after the United States and former Soviet Union to achieve the feat.

Source: Xinhua