"Russia and China signed a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday to
set up an international lunar research station as both countries seek to
catch up with the United States in the space race.

Russia, which sent the first man into space during the Soviet Union, has
been lagging behind Washington and Beijing in the exploration of the Moon
and Mars.

Russia's space agency Roscosmos said in a statement that a memorandum
was signed by its head, Dmitry Rogozin, and Zhang Kejian of China's
National Space Administration (CNSA)."

See:

https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pac...-space-station