In September 1992, Chinese government made a decision to implement the manned space program and prescribed the "Three-step Strategy" of development.

The first step is to launch a manned spaceship, set up primarily integrated experimental manned spacecraft engineering, and carry out space application experiments.

The second step is to make technology breakthroughs in Extravehicular Activities (EVA) as well as space rendezvous and docking of manned spaceships and spacecrafts, launch a space lab, and provide a solution for space application of a certain scale with man-tending on a short-term basis.

The third step is to establish a space station, and provide a solution for space application of larger scale with man-tending on a long-term basis.