The launch of Alcomsat-1 from China's Xichang Satellite Launch Center. Photo is courtesy of Xinhua/Ju Zhenhua.

China has launched Algeria's first communication satellite, Alcomsat-1, into a preset orbit from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the southwestern province of Sichuan early Monday according to Xinhua.

The satellite was the first cooperative project in aerospace industry between the two countries. Alcomsat-1 will be used by Algeria for broadcast and television, emergency communication, distance education, e-governance, enterprise communication, broadband access and satellite-based navigation.

The satellite was launched 40 minutes after midnight by a Chinese Long March-3B carrier rocket, making it the 258th flight mission for the Long March rocket family.