China expresses condolences over casualties in accident on Thailand's under-construction railway project: spokeswoman

China expresses condolences over the casualties resulting from the accident on an under-construction railway project in Thailand, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Wednesday.

A construction crane used for railway work plummeted at a high-speed rail project site in Sikhio District, Thailand's Nakhon Ratchasima Province, earlier Wednesday, slamming into a passing train, Thai media reported. The impact sparked a fire in the train carriages and led to the train derailing. Initial reports said at least 10 people were killed and multiple others were injured in the incident.

Speaking at a press conference in Beijing, Mao emphasized China's commitment to ensuring the safety of both construction projects and personnel involved.

"We have noticed the relevant reports regarding the accident, and we express our condolences over the casualties. The Chinese government attaches great importance to the safety of projects and personnel, and we are currently investigating the situation. The relevant section of the project is being constructed by a Thai company, and the cause of the accident is still under investigation," said the spokeswoman.

China expresses condolences over casualties in accident on Thailand's under-construction railway project: spokeswoman

China expresses condolences over casualties in accident on Thailand's under-construction railway project: spokeswoman

China expresses condolences over casualties in accident on Thailand's under-construction railway project: spokeswoman

China's BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) will carry out an in-orbit upgrade in the near future to further improve service quality and optimize the operational status of some satellites, according to the China Satellite Navigation Office.

During the upgrade period, the office said it will continue to strengthen joint commissioning and testing of satellites in orbit, as well as monitoring and maintenance of service performance, in order to ensure a stable user experience.

The BeiDou system is a mature, fully functional and high-performing global satellite navigation system, and it currently has 50 satellites in orbit. The accuracy of its space signal is better than two meters, while global positioning accuracy is better than 10 meters. The system also achieves a velocity measurement accuracy better than 0.2 meters per second and timing accuracy within 20 nanoseconds.

So far, the BeiDou system has become deeply integrated into China's overall economic and social development, continuing to provide high-precision positioning, navigation and timing services to a wide range of users, and serving as a key technological enabler for industrial development and people's daily life.

BeiDou Navigation Satellite System to carry out in-orbit upgrades