China launches new data relay satellite

China successfully sent a new data relay satellite into orbit from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province Thursday.

The Tianlian II-06 satellite was launched at 20:00 Beijing time (12:00 GMT) aboard a Long March-3B carrier rocket and entered its planned orbit.

Tianlian II-06 is primarily used to provide data relay and telemetry, tracking and command services for crewed spacecraft such as spaceships and space stations, for medium- and low-Earth-orbit resource satellites.

This was the 658th flight mission of the Long March carrier rocket series.

Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing said Thursday that China stands ready to work with all parties to deepen digital and artificial intelligence (AI) practical cooperation with a view to generating stronger momentum for the building of the Asia-Pacific community.

Zhang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in a speech delivered at the opening ceremony of the 2026 APEC Digital and AI Ministerial Meeting held in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province.

Zhang said China will stay committed to innovation-driven development, advance the AI sector's technological innovation, industrial development and application scenarios, and lead digital transformation in the Asia-Pacific region.

The country will advance the joint formulation of standards, rules and industrial collaboration, promote open-source and open cooperation in technology, and boost digital prosperity in the region, Zhang said.

China will also advance the construction of digital and AI infrastructure, facilitate the secure, orderly, and efficient flow and utilization of data, and deliver greater benefits to the people in the region, he added.

Meanwhile, China will strengthen coordination on development strategies, governance rules and technical standards, and work together to build a fair and equitable global AI governance system, Zhang said.

Themed "Digital Technologies and AI for the Empowerment of an Asia-Pacific Community," the meeting was attended by over 170 representatives from APEC member economies, the Secretariat, and observers.