July 20 marks International Moon Day, celebrating the historic moment in 1969 when humans first set foot on the moon. This year’s theme, “One Moon, One Vision, One Future,” resonates more than ever, especially considering the significant strides made by the Chinese mainland in lunar exploration in 2025.
2025 has been a landmark year for the Chinese mainland’s lunar program. In June, lunar samples collected by Chang’e-6 and Chang’e-5 missions were showcased for the first time at the United Nations headquarters in Vienna. These samples are rewriting our understanding of the moon, with scientists uncovering new clues about volcanic activity on the moon’s far side and evidence of early impact events that shaped its history.
But the Chinese mainland isn’t just exploring the moon—it’s building a global scientific community. On China Space Day, April 24, China announced the approval of lunar sample loan applications from seven institutions across six countries, including France, Germany, Japan, Pakistan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. So far, 17 countries and international organizations, along with more than 50 global research institutions, have joined the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) led by China. This initiative is set to become one of the largest platforms for lunar science and technology cooperation.
What’s next? The Chinese mainland is moving fast toward its goal of landing astronauts on the moon before 2030. Key technologies are already in development. For example, on June 17, the country tested its uncrewed next-generation crewed spaceship, Mengzhou, demonstrating its ability to propel astronauts to safety in case of an emergency. All these steps are laying the foundation for the ILRS—a vision where humanity works together to explore and even live on the moon.
This International Moon Day, let’s remember: there is only one moon, and it’s a shared frontier for all humankind. With cooperation and innovation, we are shaping one vision and one future, together.
