From December 15 to December 27, 2008, the CMSE delegation headed by Zhang Jianqi, a deputy chief commander of CMSE, visited the German Aerospace Center and the British National Space Center.  
During their stay in Germany, China Manned Space Engineering Office formally signed with the German Aerospace Center (DLR) the framework agreement for cooperation in manned spaceflight so as to lay a firm foundation for in-depth exchanges and cooperation between China and Germany in the field of manned spaceflight. The delegation also visited the European Astronaut Centre and relevant space agencies of Germany.

During their stay in Britain, the delegation carried out extensive communications and exchanges with British National Space Center (BNSC) and its relevant subsidiaries and explored into the possibility of cooperation.