Venezuela's first satellite to take off from China

CARACAS: Venezuela's first satellite, Simon Bolivar, will be launched from China in November, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Sunday.

The Chinese-made satellite, named after Venezuela's independence hero, is for broadcast and telecommunications purposes and is due to be launched on Nov 2, Chavez said in his weekly TV and radio program Alo, Presidente.

Chavez said the Simon Bolivar satellite would benefit Venezuela's communication systems, particularly TV and the Internet, and help to improve education and healthcare in the nation.