BEIJING - NASA chief Charles Bolden said his China visit laid the groundwork for future cooperation between the two countries on manned space flight and space exploration.

The head of the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration, a former astronaut and veteran of four space shuttle missions, wrapped up a five-day trip to China on Thursday that included a tour of a major space launch center.

Bolden said in a statement released on Tuesday by the US embassy in Beijing that he had been given a "very comprehensive visit" of facilities linked to China's manned space flight program and held talks with senior officials.