Hong Kong (CNN) The Chinese government has revealed for the first time it has started construction on a new domestically-made aircraft carrier, the third overall in the People's Liberation Army Navy fleet.

In an article celebrating the sixth anniversary of China's first carrier, the Liaoning, state-run news agency Xinhua teased the future of the country's fleet.

"Six years have passed, our domestic carrier has been trialed, entry into service is just around the corner. The new aircraft carrier has also been built on the slipway," the article said.

China's second aircraft carrier, the unnamed Type 001A, was the country's first domestically made vessel of its type and has been running through sea trials over the course of 2018.

But rumors had been circulating in the past year that another, more advanced vessel, was already under construction in China.