China is likely to built a new satellite launching center, the fourth of its kind in the country, in its southernmost island province of Hainan, and the launching center is likely to be put into operation before the year 2010.

Sources from deputies, from the island province, to the ongoing annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC) confirmed the report.

According to a report delivered at this year's session of Hainan Provincial People's Congress held in January, the feasibility research on the center will start within the year so as to materialize the long-awaited plan as soon as possible.

Currently, China has three satellite launching centers located, respectively, in Xichang in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Jiuquan in northwest China's Gansu Province and Taiyuan in north China's Shanxi Province.