2014年CRI 习近平同巴西总统互致贺电祝中巴卫星发射成功（在线收听）

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff are vowing to step up cooperation in science and technology.

The two leaders have made the pledge as part of congratulatory messages they have exchanged following the successful launch of a jointly-developed satellite.

Chinese space authorities have successfully launched the CBERS-4 satellite into space from the Taiyuan launch center on Sunday.

The launch is the 200th of the Long March rocket family.

The Long March-4B rocket has successfully put into orbit the satellite, which is jointly developed with Brazil.

Irish President Michael Higgins has arrived in Beijing to start a 9-day visit to China.

Aside from Beijing, Higgins is also due to make stops in Shanghai and Hangzhou.

Higgins and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to oversee the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the National University of Ireland and Tsinghua University.

As part of his time in Hangzhou, Higgins is due to tour Alibaba's headquarters and meet with founder Jack Ma.

This year marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Ireland.