Bolivia's first satellite operators graduated from China's Shenzhou Institute on Monday, and they will now look forward to managing Bolivia's first telecommunication satellite, which will be launched by China in December.

Some 78 Bolivian professionals have concluded their courses in China, with the training forming part of the Tupac Katari satellite project (TKSAT-1) between China and the Andean country.

According to the China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC), the company in charge of the training, the graduates have studied the theories and practise of satellite management, so as to help improve telecommunication, education and health services after they return Bolivia.

"With these young talents well prepared, Bolivia's long space dream will be fulfilled," said Guillermo Chalup Liendo, Bolivian ambassador to China, at the trainees' graduation ceremony in Beijing, encouraging the technicians to dedicate themselves to developing Bolivia's space technology.

The Bolivian government said earlier this month that the satellite, once in operation, will have a positive impact on the country's economy, and its benefits will be shared by the rest of South America.

Li Lan, deputy general manager of the telecom satellite department of CGWIC, noted that personnel training has become an important part of the corporation's satellite export service.

She said that the training program has provided the intellectual support for space program cooperation, explaining, "Besides Bolivia, we have also trained professionals for Nigeria, Pakistan and Venezuela. Many of the trainees have become founders of these countries' aerospace industry."

The TKSAT-1 project is the CGWIC's fifth integrated satellite export worldwide, and the second to South America, following the successful launch of the communication satellite Venesat-1 for Venezuela in 2008.

Besides the training program, the company's export services include the satellite's construction, testing and launch, as well as the installation of ground control stations.

China has so far completed 37 commercial launches for international clients with 43 satellites sent into orbit, according to data from the CGWIC, a subsidiary of the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.