China again carried out a land-based mid-course missile interception test within its territory on January 27.

Xinhua learned the news from the Information Bureau of China's Defense Ministry.

"The test has reached the preset goal," said an official with the bureau, without giving detailed information.

"The test is defensive in nature and targets no other country," he said.

It was the second time China announced such kind of missile test. A similar anti-missile interception test was successfully conducted on January 11, 2010.

Before the test, China's first domestically built jumbo air freighter made its maiden flight on January 26.

The Yun-20 is a huge, multi-function airfreighter which can perform various long-distance cargo and passenger air transportation tasks, Xinhua reported, saying that the successful test flight is significant in promoting China's economic and national defense buildup as well as bettering its emergency handling such as disaster relief and humanitarian aid.

The giant aircraft will continue to undergo experiments and test flights as scheduled, Xinhua said.