China and Russia agree to build joint lunar space station

China and Russia have announced plans to build a lunar space station.

The leaders of the two countries' respective space agencies signed a memorandum of understanding on behalf of their national governments.

A statement from both countries' space agencies says it will be available for use by other nations. “China and Russia will use their accumulated experience in space science, research and development as well as the use of space equipment and space technology to jointly develop a road map for the construction of an international lunar scientific research station (ILRS)," China's space agency said.

  It comes as Russia prepares to celebrate the 60th anniversary of its first-ever manned space flight.

 The International Scientific Lunar Station will carry out a wide range of scientific research including exploration and utilisation of the moon, a statement from both agencies said.

 It added that both Russia and China will collaborate in the planning, design, development and operation of the research station.

Buoyed by billions of dollars in government investment, China has rapidly accelerated its space program over the past decade, firing space labs and satellites into orbit.

Chen Lan, an analyst who specialises in China's space programme, told AFP news agency that the project was a "big deal".

"This will be the largest international space cooperation project for China, so it's significant," he said.