China used a Long March 311 rocket to launch a telecommunications satellite for Venezuela, the first time China made and launched a bird for a Latin American nation, Xinhua news reported.

The rocket lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province in southwestern China.

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. produced the 11,240-pound Venezuela 1 Telecom Satellite, which is designed to operate for 15 years. It will provide broadcast signals, educational programming and medical services over most of South America and the Caribbean.

The sat is nick-named the Simon Bolivar Satellite.

It was the 111th launch of the Long March, according to Xinhua.