China's first self-developed large dual-fuel RoPax ship for export, built by Guangzhou Shipyard, is delivered in Nansha, South China's Guangzhou Province on October 23, 2025. Photo: screenshot of China Media Group's report

The first homegrown large dual-fuel ro-ro passenger ship has been delivered, the first Xiong'an-made satellite has rolled off the assembly line, and the Zhuque-3 rocket has entered the first flight preparation phase... Recently, China has achieved consecutive breakthroughs in high-end manufacturing, China Media Group (CMG) reported on Friday.

On October 23, China delivered its first self-developed large-scale export dual-fuel ro-ro passenger ship. The vessel can be powered by oil or cleaner liquefied natural gas (LNG) and China possesses independent intellectual property rights, according to the report.

The ship features a total of 12 decks and is equipped with facilities such as a self-service restaurant, café, and observation lounge. It has 485 cabins, accommodating up to 1,800 passengers and over 550 cars. Primarily designed for short-sea transportation, it connects islands or coastal cities, facilitating convenient travel for passengers and vehicles. The ship's interior fittings have achieved 100 percent domestication, the report said.

After delivery, this dual-fuel ro-ro passenger ship will be deployed on the route between Genoa and Palermo in Italy, per the report.

On October 22, the first Xiong'an-made satellite — "Xiong'an-1" — completed production and rolled off the assembly line. This marked a significant leap from "0 to 1" in the intelligent manufacturing capabilities of the aerospace information industry in Xiong'an New Area, North China's Hebei Province, accelerating the clustering of enterprises in the satellite-internet industrial chain, according to CMG.

"Xiong'an-1" is the first satellite to be fully assembled and completed in Xiong'an New Area. The satellite features three technological innovations -- a high-performance onboard computer, large flexible solar wings, and a new-generation electric propulsion system. These breakthroughs address the challenges of "computing power bottlenecks," "energy constraints," and "propulsion efficiency," respectively, advancing communication satellites toward higher throughput, longer lifespan, and greater intelligence, which injects new momentum into the large-scale development of China's satellite constellations.

Also in recent days, the reusable Zhuque-3 reusable rocket has successfully completed its fueling rehearsal and static ignition test, marking an entry into the critical preparation phase for its maiden flight.

The Zhuque-3 is a large-capacity, low-cost, reusable liquid launch vehicle independently developed by China for large-scale constellation deployment tasks, per CMG. The rocket's first and second stages have a diameter of 4.5 meters, with a payload fairing diameter of 5.2 meters. 

The total length of the rocket is 66.1 meters, with a takeoff mass of approximately 570 tons and a takeoff thrust exceeding 750 tons. After performing orbital launch missions, the rocket can autonomously return with high precision, achieve a soft landing at the recovery site and be reused.

Currently, China is actively promoting breakthroughs in reusable rocket technology. Last year, both the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation and LandSpace completed 10-kilometer-level vertical takeoff and landing flight tests for reusable rockets. This year, multiple reusable rockets, including Zhuque-3 and Tianlong-3, will conduct maiden flights or related tests. In addition, China's next-generation crewed launch vehicle under development also includes a reusable variant, according to the report.

From the vast blue seas to the boundless cosmos, Chinese manufacturing is steadily advancing toward new heights. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), a series of breakthroughs from zero to one have bolstered the Chinese manufacturing, which is also gradually reshaping the new landscape of global industrial development, the CMG reported.

Global Times