VIENNA - China, a contributor to international collaboration in the peaceful use of outer space, has been pushing technological boundaries of the space field, the UN space chief has said.

Aarti Holla-Maini, director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, made the remarks in a recent exclusive interview with Xinhua.

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Recalling her last year's trip to China, Holla-Maini said that the successful launch of Chang'e-6 impressed her most, which was "really a testament to the experience and capabilities" of the Chinese space sector.

The Chang'e-6 lunar probe, which was launched in early May 2024, landed in the moon's South Pole-Aitken Basin and returned to Earth in late June with more than 1,935 grams of the first-ever samples from the less-known far side of the moon.

The UN space chief was also impressed by the fact that a number of private sector companies in China are investing in new, sophisticated satellite systems.

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China is home to the Regional Center for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific, and hosts an office of the UN-SPIDER, a program aimed at facilitating the use of space technology for disaster management and emergency response, she said. "I hope that we will build on our existing collaboration."

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Holla-Maini expected future cooperation with China in multiple areas, including space traffic coordination, lunar activities and space resources.

She voiced hope of seeing more nationalities partnering with China to benefit from the opportunities brought by the country's space development.

In June 2023, Holla-Maini took the helm of the UN space agency dedicated to promoting international cooperation in the peaceful use and exploration of space.