China's first aircraft carrier plans high-sea voyage

China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, is set to begin a high-sea voyage at an appropriate time within the year.

The Liaoning and its crew members have been conducting a series of scheduled tests and training drills since it anchored at its homeport of Qingdao, in east China's Shandong Province, in February, according to a report on Thursday by national broadcaster China Central Television.

To date, all the tests have been going smoothly, and the Qingdao homeport has been proven capable of berthing and supporting the carrier, the report said.

The Liaoning has finished over a hundred exercises and experiments since it was delivered to the People's Liberation Army Navy and put into commission last year.

It will undergo further tests including ocean-going trials and flight-landing exercises under the schedule, the report said.

The Qingdao port will also be further improved, it added.