China's third manned spacecraft, Shenzhou Seven is moving towards its final orbit with the crew of three reported to be calm and relaxed.

President Hu Jintao called the launch another great feat in China's progress in the world of science and technology.

He was speaking at the Jiuquan launch centre in the northwestern province of Gansu.

A feature of this mission will be a space walk that's essential for China's long-term goals of assembling an orbiting station in the next decade and possibly making a visit to the moon.

China's first manned space venture was in October 2003, when it joined Russia and the United States as the only countries to have sent astronauts into space.

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