China carried out a key experiment for its coming Mars mission in Hebei province's Huailai on Thursday in front of dozens of foreign diplomats and journalists.

The experiment, which was to verify the design and capability of the lander of China's robotic Mars probe, has become the first of its kind in China, according to Zhang Kejian, director of the China National Space Administration, who oversaw the test.

The move has also been the first time for China to open its Mars mission to foreign visitors, he said, adding it was a practical step in the nation's exchange and cooperation with the international space community.