China successfully launched two BeiDou-3 satellites named BeiDou-3 M1 and BeiDou-3 M2 into space through a single carrier rocket Long March-3B from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwestern province of Sichuan.
The two newly-launched satellites represent the third phase of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System.
This system will provide services for countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, and form a complete global satellite navigation system by 2020, by which China plans to have more than 30 satellites.
It will make China third country in world after the US and Russia to operate its own navigation system.