Xi congratulates Chinese astronauts aboard space station

The three Chinese astronauts salute as they talk with President Xi Jinping, at China’s new space station on Wednesday (CCTV/AP)

Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke with three astronauts who are making the country’s space station their home for the next three months, and called their mission an important milestone in China’s space industry.

The crew consisting of former air force pilots Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo arrived at the Tianhe space station last week.