The US is not so clear about its intentions right now, but China landing on the Moon later this year and a resurgence of international interest in the Moon could change that.
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For its next phase, China plans to put rovers on the Moon to collect samples.
China also hopes to make its first moon landing within two years and to put an astronaut on the moon as early as 2025.
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After that, during this five year period China also plans to send a rover to the Moon, collect samples, and then return to Earth.
China may someday be looking down on us from the moon.
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The next five years will also see China paving the way towards putting a human being on the Moon, making it only the second country to have done so.
It's a day of reunions for families and friends in China, who will come together to eat mooncakes under the full moon.
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In contrast, the rising countries of Asia, notably China and India, have begun plans for manned flights to the moon and beyond.
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His bold statement might have been more of a publicity drive for Energia rather than a clear commitment to a program, but China, which has committed itself to a space program to land men on the moon by 2017 has also stated its interest in helium-3.
In China and parts of Asia it's believed to be the day with the brightest moon of the year.
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And many of them, including China, Russia, the U.S., India and Japan, want to go to the moon.
China and India are competing with each other to see who will be the first to land another astronaut on the Moon.
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