Satisfying its ever-burgeoning
demand for air transportation, China will purchase more than 1,900
aircraft by 2020, the government said Tuesday.
Zhang Yunchuan, minister of the State Commission of Science,
Technology and Industry for National Defense said the huge demand
for airplanes of various models will create a huge market potential
for both domestic and foreign aircraft manufacturers.
Terming the list of airplanes needed "colossal," head of General
Administration of Civil Aviation of China Yang Yuanyuan said China
will build at least one hinge-airport for the Asia-Pacific area by
2020.
Zhang and Yang yesterday revealed China's aviation industry
purchase targets for the next two decades while delivering keynote
speeches at a high-ranking aviation forum in Beijing
yesterday.
The one-day forum was among China's host of activities to celebrate
the centenary of aviation for human beings. In December 1903, two
US engineers, Orville and Wilbur Wright, made the first powered
aircraft flight.
Yang also said China is targeted to become the world's No 3 by 2020
in terms of aviation passenger and cargo turnover. It currently
ranks sixth in the world.
"Our priority is to sharpen our position in the sector," Yang said,
addressing more than 300 representatives from across the
world.
He also said the country will
support at least three airlines which will rank among the world's
top 20 in term of aviation industry turnover by 2020.
He said he is confident the goals can be achieved, based on China's
rapid economic development.
China has set a GDP target for 2020 four times its current level.
Based on the general relations between a country's GDP growth and
its aviation industry's development, government officials believe
the sector will maintain an average annual growth rate of 10
percent.
China's aviation industry turnover reached 16 billion-ton
kilometers in 2002, up 15 percent from last year.
"By 2020, it will reach 84 billion-ton kilometers, ranking among
the top three in the world," said Yang.
(China Daily?September 17, 2003)