By Zhao Zhijin, Deputy Producer and Presenter at CGTN‑French
At 12:01 p.m. (Beijing time) on January 31, 2026, under clear skies at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, the Long March‑2C rocket carrying the Algeria‑3B remote sensing satellite was successfully launched. Shortly afterward, the satellite reached its designated orbit, marking the complete success of the mission.
In fact, 16 days earlier, at 12:01 p.m. on January 15, a rocket of the same model had already successfully placed the Algeria‑3A remote sensing satellite into orbit. Today, the constellation formed by satellites 3A and 3B has established a high‑precision remote sensing observation system covering the entire Algerian territory, injecting powerful momentum into the development of this North African country.
After the launch, leaders of both countries exchanged congratulatory messages. Chinese President Xi Jinping stated that this project, following the Algeria‑1 communications satellite, represents another fruitful cooperation between China and Algeria in the aerospace field, and an important manifestation of the comprehensive strategic partnership linking the two nations.
Tracing back the history of Sino‑Algerian aerospace cooperation, the seed of friendship was planted in space as early as 2017. On December 11 of that year, the Algeria‑1 communications satellite, developed by China for Algeria, was successfully launched. It completely transformed Algeria’s communications network, covering the entire territory and neighboring regions, playing a key role in broadcasting, television, emergency communications, distance education, and more. It enabled populations on the outskirts of the Sahara to benefit from practical information services.
The recently launched Algeria‑3A and 3B remote sensing satellites will mainly be used for land planning and disaster prevention and mitigation. With a panchromatic resolution of 0.5 meters, reaching advanced international standards, they hold profound significance for Algeria, a vast country with more than four‑fifths of its territory covered by desert.
If one were to define the characteristics of Sino‑Algerian aerospace cooperation so far, it would be the constant principle of “mutual support, equality, and mutual benefit.” In July 2023, China Great Wall Industry Corporation, a subsidiary of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), as the prime contractor, signed a contract with the Algerian Space Agency to deliver two optical remote sensing satellites into orbit, along with a complete ground system, technical training, and more. This was not a simple “export of satellites,” but rather a deep capacity for autonomy, symbolized by the Chinese expression “teach a man to fish.”
China not only helped Algeria build the Algiers ground receiving station but also trained the first generation of Algerian remote sensing engineers capable of independently planning satellite missions, receiving and processing data. This enabled Algeria to make a true transition from “buying satellites” to “using satellites and mastering technologies,” breaking the blockade and restrictions imposed by the West on high‑resolution remote sensing technologies.
This launch mission follows the same principle: no political conditions were imposed. China respects Algeria’s development needs, helps it build autonomous aerospace capabilities, and achieve independent mastery of space technologies.
Within the framework of the 15th Five‑Year Plan (2026‑2030), China has for the first time included the goal of “becoming a space power” in a five‑year plan. However, this ambition is not focused on monopoly or exclusivity. On the contrary, the plan emphasizes the principle of “open cooperation and win‑win.” The China National Space Administration and the China Manned Space Engineering Office have also clearly stated their intention to promote international cooperation in areas such as the lunar scientific station and deep space exploration, share resources of the Tiangong Space Station, and create a practical platform for a community of shared future for humanity in space.
As a typical example of this vision of aerospace cooperation, the launch mission of the Algeria‑3B remote sensing satellite is the 629th flight of the Long March rocket series. It demonstrates the maturity and stability of China’s aerospace technologies and opens a new path for developing countries to realize their space dreams through fair cooperation.