China has successfully sent a new pair of BeiDou navigation satellites into space from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

The twin satellites blasted off on a Long March-3B carrier rocket at around 8AM local time and entered the designated orbit after flying for some four hours. The pair are the eleventh and twelfth satellites of the BeiDou-3 network project. According to the plan, another six are scheduled to be launched by the end of this year. A complete 35-satellite network allowing for global coverage will be in place by 2020. Apart from positioning and navigation, the BeiDou system can also provide communication services in the form of short messages. An official said the system is aimed at providing services to the countries and regions along the Belt and Road.

RAN CHENGQI, DIRECTOR CHINA SATELLITE NAVIGATION OFFICE "We're also pushing forward the application of the BeiDou navigation system while stepping up its construction, especially the international cooperation with major powers and countries along the Belt and Road. We need to enhance cooperation and exchange with other navigation systems of the US, Russian and Europe to jointly advance the development of satellite navigation technologies."