Describing his meeting with Griffin, Luo said he talked about how open the United States was on his first visit in 1980.

"At that time I found the U.S. was very open, and in the 1990s and now, it's the other way around," he said. "I think one country, if it's open, is going to have progress, and if it's closed, then it's going to be left behind."

Luo said that in the 1950s and 1970s, China was closed and had slow development, "but after the 1980s, we have achieved substantial progress and development, so countries should be open."

China's space program has moved ahead in the last three years, including the launch of two human missions, even as the U.S. shuttle program has come to a near-standstill after the fatal 2003 break-up of shuttle Columbia.

Only one shuttle has launched since the Columbia accident, and the same problem of falling debris that led to the Columbia's deadly disintegration recurred on that launch. The next shuttle launch is set for July.

Luo said China has had 46 consecutive successful launches since 1996, including 23 satellites and six Shenzhou spacecraft, which can carry astronauts.

China's Moon exploration program includes a lunar fly-by in 2007, a soft landing in 2012 and a return of lunar samples by 2017, Luo said.

He said China has cooperated on space programs with Europe, Nigeria, Venezuela, Russia and Brazil, among others. Asked if China was looking for cooperation with the United States and other nations on the International Space Station, Luo replied, "We have always been interested; we don't have a ticket yet."