China on Tuesday sent the Yaogan-50 01 remote sensing satellite into space.
Launched at 22:16 (Beijing Time) aboard a modified version of the Long March-6 rocket, the satellite has entered planned orbit, according to the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center.
It will be used for national land surveys, crop yield estimation, and disaster prevention and mitigation.
The launch was the 624th flight mission undertaken by the Long March rocket series and marked China's first successful orbital launch of 2026.
China opens 2026 space mission schedule with successful satellite launch
Liu Haixing, special envoy of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Xi Jinping, visited Laos on Tuesday to congratulate the successful convening of the 12th National Congress of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and Thongloun Sisoulith on his election as general secretary of the 12th LPRP Central Committee.
Liu, head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, delivered a congratulatory letter from Xi to Thongloun and conveyed a message.
The message stated that China stands ready to work with Laos to advance the continuous development of a China-Laos community with a shared future, guided by the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and two countries.
Thongloun expressed his sincere appreciation and extended warm greetings to Xi.
He noted that the new central leadership of the LPRP attaches great importance to developing relations with China and is willing to work closely with China to continuously elevate bilateral relations between the two parties and two countries to a higher level.
Xi's special envoy visits Laos
