China and African nations are increasingly collaborating in space to develop their own ambitions in the next frontier analysts say.
Chinese astronauts known as taikonauts have been playing a role in space diplomacy while on a six-month mission on the Tiangong space station currently under construction.
A young Ethiopian wanted to know what astronauts eat in space and how they shower. A Somali student wanted to know about the future of space tourism and a female student from Egypt wanted to know whether it's difficult for women to become astronauts. The event was not only a show of soft power on Beijing's part, but also indicates the importance China is placing on the role Africa can help it play in the global space race, experts said."These engagements are not necessarily because China and the rest are engaging to help Africa, they're doing so because they get economic, social and cultural capital in return," said Oniosun.
In his remarks at the event in Addis Ababa last week, the head of China's mission to the AU, Hu Changchun, said space was an important part of President Xi Jinping's Belt and Road Initiative, which is rapidly building infrastructure in developing countries.
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