China lunar chief accuses US of interfering in joint space programmes

BEIJING, April 23 (Reuters) - The chief designer of China's lunar exploration programme accused the United States on Wednesday of interfering in Beijing's pushes to cooperate with Europe and other foreign partners in space programmes.

Wu Weiren told Reuters that China pursued a policy of open space diplomacy - in contrast, he said, with the U.S. - and that Beijing remained open to cooperating on lunar exploration with developing and developed countries.

China looked forward to further cooperation with Russia on moon-based nuclear energy, Wu said.