An Earth observation satellite co-developed by China and Brazil was sent into space Friday in what the two countries say could be a template for international cooperation on climate change and environmental protection, state news agency Xinhua reported.

The China-Brazil Earth Resource Satellite-4A was launched on a Long March-4B rocket in north China’s Shanxi province, Xinhua reported.

It was the sixth satellite developed under the China-Brazil Earth Resource Satellite program, which began in 1988. It will replace an older satellite that was launched in 2014 and will provide better Earth observation for nonmilitary uses such as monitoring the Amazon rainforest and environmental changes in Brazil, according to the report.

The same rocket also put eight other satellites into orbit including a wide-range, multi-spectral, remote-sensing microsatellite donated to Ethiopia, according to the report.

Contact reporter Ding Yi (yiding@caixin.com)