China's newest astronaut introduced to the public

Ye Guangfu, the newest Chinese astronaut, sits for a meeting. [Photo by Zhao Lei/China Daily]

Ye Guangfu, one of China's newest astronauts, was introduced to the Chinese public in Beijing on Wednesday, after taking part earlier this month in a weeklong training program in Italy organized by the European Space Agency.

Ye, a 36-year-old Chengdu native, was an experienced fighter pilot with the People's Liberation Army Air Force before being selected by China's manned space authority in 2010. He has a total flight time of 1,100 hours.

This is the first time a Chinese astronaut has been introduced to the public before taking part in a space mission. Previously, detailed information on astronauts would only be released after he or she had began their journey.

Ye's training program, intended to hone astronauts' skills with a multicultural approach to leadership, following orders, teamwork and decision-making, was called the Cooperative Adventure for Valuing and Exercising, according to the European Space Agency.