BEIJING: China is to launch two remote sensing satellites for Pakistan inJune this year, according to the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology(CALVT) website.

According to reports, the satellites are being launched to monitor thedevelopment of the $ 50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)projects.

It will be the first international commercial launch for a Long March-2Crocket for around 18 years after it carried Motorola’s Iridium satellitesinto orbit in 1999.

The rocket will also carry the China-France Oceanography Satellite intospace in September this year, CALVT said. The satellite will monitor oceanwind and waves. Long March-2C rockets are mainly used to send satellitesinto low Earth or Sun-synchronous orbits.

China’s state news agency Xinhua reported the rocket will also carry theChina-France Oceanography satellite into space in September this year.

Earlier, China had also launched Pakistan’s communication satellitePAKSAT-1R back in 2011.

China and Pakistan had signed an agreement in 2016 for the launch of aspecial remote sensing satellite this year in 2018.

In April 2016, the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission(SUPARCO) and the China Great Wall Industry Cooperation (CGWIC) signed anagreement for the development and launch of the ‘Pakistan Remote SensingSatellite (PRSS-1) System’. Minister for Planning, Development and Reform,Ahsan Iqbal and CGWIC President, Yin Limping signed the agreement here onWednesday.

It was underlined that Pakistan and China will use space technology tocarry out planning and execution of development projects under theChina-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) more scientifically, and in thisregard a satellite will be launched in June 2018.