China and Brazil will launch another satellite, called China-Brazil Earth Resource Satellite-4A (CBERS-4A) next year, Xinhua reports.

The Chinese government-run news agency quotes China National Space Administration Secretary-General Li Guoping as saying CBERS-4A is being tested in Brazil.

Mr Li said the new satellite would replace CBERS-4, which was launched in 2014.

The report says China and Brazil agreed in 1988 to develop the CBERS series.

It says CBERS-4A will be the sixth satellite in the series to be launched.

CBERS-4A is meant to collect information about the planet for civil purposes such as monitoring the environment in general and the weather in particular, and making maps.

Xinhua quotes Mr Li as saying development of CBERS-5 and CBERS-6, which will replace CBERS-4A after five years, will begin soon.