Chinese President Hu Jintao applauses after watching the launching of the Shenzhou-7 spaceship at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the northwestern Gansu Province on Sept. 25, 2008.

JIUQUAN, Gansu, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao congratulated the country's space scientists and taikonauts on the successful launch of the manned spacecraft Shenzhou-7 at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on Thursday.

"The successful launch marked the first victory of the Shenzhou-7 mission," Hu told Chinese experts and other work staff at the center after officials declared the spacecraft entered the preset orbit.

"On behalf of the (Communist) Party Central Committee, the State Council and the Central Military Commission, I'd like to extend warm congratulations to all work staff and army forces participating in the mission," said Hu.