China and Russia will build space stations on the moon, give them to other countries

China and Russia have announced plans to build a space station on the moon.

Russian space agency Roscosmos said it has signed an agreement with the National Space Administration in China to develop research objects on the moon's surface, in its orbit or both.

The joint declaration of both agencies says that this space station will be available to be used by other countries, the BBC writes.

The so-called International moon Scientific Station will be used for a wide range of scientific research, including exploration and exploitation of the moon, the statement states.

“Kina and Russia will use their experience accumulated in science, research and development for space and will use space equipment and space technology to develop a route together to build an international research station on Monday”, the Chinese-language statement said.

Chen Lan, an analyst with China's space programme, told the AFP agency that this project is important to the country with the largest population in the world.

This will be the biggest international space co-operation for China, so it's important”, he said.

China has begun relatively late to score successes in space exploration, but last December succeeded in successfully receiving stones from the moon via the “Chang therefrom-5”.