China will give top priority to the development of small aircraft with 50 to 70 seats for regional flights while continuing purchase of long-distance flights in the following years, as revealed by a senior government official Tuesday.

Zhang Hongbiao, vice-minister with the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense (CSTIND), said that a plane for regional flights, which is completely designed and produced by China, will be delivered to customers within six years.

China still needs more than 400 small jetliners for regional flights, which will account for more than 26 percent of the total flights in 2019, as estimated by experts.

The national strategy to develop the land-locked western areas will further expand the market of small aircraft.

The CSTIND is the governmental department dealing with coordination and supervision of the domestic aviation industry and the mapping of long-range development schedules in the field.

Until now, more than 1,400 cargo aircraft, passenger aircraft and multi-purpose aircraft of 30 different types in eight series have been developed in the country.

Since 1970s, China has developed aircraft of different types, such as Y-10, Y-11, Y-12, and N-5A. Among them, Y-12 aircraft have been certified for airworthiness by aviation authorities in the United Kingdom and the United States, and over 80 aircraft have been exported.

The country will also try to explore the international market for China-made small airplanes in the future, said the official.

Statistics also show that China's air transportation will grow 8.6 percent annually in the following 20 years and China needs an additional 1,500 jetliners with a value of over 100 billion US dollars.

Zhang said China welcomes international cooperation and expects foreign partners to join regional aircraft projects by various means.

(Xinhua 11/12/2000)