2010-11-16 13:51

BEIJING - China's aviation industry prepares for continuing growth during the 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-2010) and is expected to contribute to the country's fast and sustainable economic development, a Chinese official said Monday.

Liu Lihua, director of the General Office of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, made the remarks at an aviation industry forum in Zhuhai city, south China's Guangdong province.

Manufacturing and other services in China's civil aviation industry is expected to reach 46.7 billion yuan ($7.08 billion) during the 11th Five-Year Plan, 3.7 times the number for the 2001-2005 period, Liu said.

China's domestically-developed passenger jet, the ARJ21-700, proved popular in the market, said Liu, adding that the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, the jet's manufacturer, has received 240 orders from home and abroad.

The government will also take new measures to boost the industry's development during the 12th Five-Year Plan, as the industry has been listed as one of the emerging industries of strategic importance, Liu said.