China successfully put a French-made communication satellite, APSTAR-7, into orbit with its Long March-3B carrier rocket on Saturday, Xinhua reported.

It lifted off from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

APSTAR-7, developed by Thales Alenia Space, reached its designated orbit 26 minutes after launch.

It will replace the APSTAR-2R, which has been in orbit about 16 years.

APSTAR-7 is a high-power broadcasting and communication satellite that can provide TV transmission and satellite communication services to Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Australia and Europe, as well as live TV broadcasting and transcontinental communication and broadcasting services to China, the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa.