As the core stage of the new jumbo rocket has a diameter up to five meters, it is very difficult to transport the rocket by rail or by road to China's three existing satellite launch centers, respectively in Xichang, Jiuquan and Taiyuan.

"The best option is to deliver the rocket by sea, with a cargo ship of special design, to the new launch center in Hainan," he concluded.

China currently employs its self-developed Long March 3 series rocket for most space missions. A Long March 3A rocket was used to deliver the country's first lunar probe Chang'e-1 in October 2007.

According to earlier media reports, the Long March 3C carrier rocket, the development of which started in 1994, will have its first launch at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

Since 1996, China has topped the world with a straight record of 61 successful rocket launches, said Liang.

(Xinhua News Agency March 11, 2008)