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  Dongfanghong-I, China's first satellite, is sent into orbit on April 24, 1970. Xinhua | 
-- On April 24, China successfully sends its first satellite into orbit. 
-- The 1,085 km-long Chengdu-Kunming Railway opens to traffic on July 1. 
-- The Tanzania-Zambia Railway starts construction in October.

-- Construction of Gezhouba project, the first large dam across the Yangtze River, is given the go-ahead in December.