Boao Town, Hainan Province, south China – Recent (CCTV – No access Chinese mainland)
1. Sign of Boao Forum for Asia (BFA)
2. Gate to main hall of BFA
3. Flags of participating countries, regions

Boao Town, Hainan Province, south China – April 8 (CCTV – No access Chinese mainland)
4. Reporter talking to Chinese astronaut Chen Dong
5. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Chen Dong, Chinese astronaut:
"The manned space program has entered the space station era, which means that the astronauts will stay in space for a longer time with more tasks to be performed. This has set higher requirements for our physical condition, knowledge, mental status and skills, and brought more challenges."
6. Reporter talking to Chinese astronaut Chen Dong
7. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Chen Dong, Chinese astronaut (partially overlaid with shot 8):
"For example, during the Shenzhou-11 mission, we spent 33 days in space. We may stay three months, or even half a year in our follow-on missions, with more extra-vehicular activities to assemble and maintain the space station. So with so many new situations and new changes, we have also improved our current trainings."
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8. Reporter
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FILE: In Space - 2016 (Exact Date Unknown)
9. Various of Chinese astronauts Jing Haipeng, Chen Dong in cabin

Boao Town, Hainan Province, south China – April 8 (CCTV – No access Chinese mainland)
10. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Chen Dong, Chinese astronaut (partially overlaid with shot 11/ending with shot 12):
"Now we are mainly studying theoretical knowledge related to technologies of space station, mechanical arm and activities outside capsule, as well as diving training, physical training and spacecraft procedure training. We will soon start desert survival training and underwater experiment to verify the procedure for capsule exits. So all of these are prepared for the space station. I think the change is newer knowledge, harder operation and higher requirements. But we have the confidence and capability to fulfill the tasks."
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12. Reporter
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13. Chen talking to reporter

FILE: Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, north China - Nov 18, 2016
14. Search and rescue workers helping Chen Dong out of capsule

Chinese astronauts are receiving comprehensive training as the country's manned space program has entered the space station era, Chinese astronaut Chen Dong said on Sunday.

Chen is attending the Boao Forum for Asia annual conference, scheduled for April 8 to 11 in Boao, a coastal town in the southern island province of Hainan.

He said in an interview with China Central Television (CCTV) that the space station era has set higher requirements for the astronauts.

"The manned space program has entered the space station era, which means that the astronauts will stay in space for a longer time with more tasks to be performed. This has set higher requirements for our physical condition, knowledge, mental status and skills, and brought more challenges," said Chen, who carried out Shenzhou-11 mission in 2016.

According to Chen, the missions for the space station will feature long in-orbit stays, regular extra-vehicular activities, in-orbit assembling and repair of the station, which means more challenges for the astronauts.

"For example, during the Shenzhou-11 mission, we spent 33 days in space. We may stay three months, or even half a year in our follow-on missions, with more extra-vehicular activities to assemble and maintain the space station. So with so many new situations and new changes, we have also improved our current trainings," said Chen.

Currently, astronauts have begun the study of space station technology, mechanical arms and extra-vehicular activities. They have also gone through diving training for adaptation, and intensified their strength and stamina training, according to Chen.

"So all of these are prepared for the space station. I think the change is newer knowledge, harder operation and higher requirements. But we have the confidence and capability to fulfill the tasks," he added.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will deliver a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 2018 Boao Forum for Asia, the theme of which is "An Open and Innovative Asia for a World of Greater Prosperity."