UNESCO recognizes Chinese astronaut

PARIS - The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has awarded the UNESCO Medal on Space Science to the first Chinese national sent to space, Yang Liwei, along with three other prominent international space pioneers, on Friday evening at the organization's headquarters in Paris.

The three other laureates of the 2017 edition - who, with Yang, were the first recipients of the award - are Valentina Tereshkova, the Russian cosmonaut and first woman in space; Arnaldo Tamayo Mendez, the first Cuban in space; and Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata, the first Japanese commander of the International Space Station.

"I thank you all for your courage and commitment," said UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova, who concluded with "an appeal, for you to continue on your scientific journey, and also to return to UNESCO as often as possible, to reach out to younger generations, to share UNESCO's message to build peace in the minds of men and women."