China puts European satellite into orbit: Xinhua

SHANGHAI (AFP) - China on Tuesday "successfully" launched a European-made telecommunications satellite into orbit aboard a Chinese rocket, the official Xinhua news agency said.

The satellite, made by Thales Alenia Space, will provide telecommunications services for customers in Asia, Africa and Europe, the report said, but did not name them.

The satellite had reached its proper orbit and was operating normally after being lifted aloft by a Long March-3B rocket, which took off from a base in the south-western province of Sichuan on Tuesday evening, Xinhua said.

Thales Alenia Space, a world leader in satellites, is a joint subsidiary of French defence electronics company Thales which holds 67 per cent and Italian aerospace and defence giant Finmeccanica which has the remaining 33 per cent.