China is planning to put a man on the moon, according to a new report setting out the country's space ambitions.
Citing new technological breakthroughs, Beijing says it "will push forward human space flight projects" as part of its "major tasks for the next five years".
"China will launch space laboratories, manned spacecraft and space freighters, and master key space station technologies," the five-year-plan states.
The lunar landing is a long-term aim, the paper says - perhaps by 2020. But a probe is expected to be launched and a surface rover landed on the moon by around 2013.
Placing a Chinese flag on the moon is a key target as Beijing seeks to catch up with the U.S. - the only nation to put a man on the moon, most recently in 1972.
But the paper stresses that the country's intentions are peaceful and repeats that "the Chinese government adheres to the exploration and utilization of outer space for peaceful purposes (and) to promote science and technology, human civilization and social progress," several times.
China is also to increase launches to construct its "heavenly palace" space station, Tiangong-1. The first part of the station was launched aboard a Long March 2F rocket in September.
