China's self-designed regional aircraft attracts visitors in Aerospace Expo

HONG KONG, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- The cabin section of China's first self-designed regional aircraft ARJ21 attracted many visitors on the Asian Aerospace International Expo and Congress 2007 which opened Monday.

China Aviation Industry Corporation I (AVIC I), the manufacturer of China's third generation fighter J10, brings models of its civil aviation products, including turbo-prop regional aircraft MA60 and regional aircraft ARJ21, ARJ21 cabin section and partial products for aero-engine subcontracting, to the 14th presentation of Asia Aerospace International Expo and Congress in Hong Kong.

Hu Wenming, AVIC I senior vice president, said, "AVIC I would like to become the world's top class manufacturer for regional aircraft and top class supplier for commercial aircraft."

Chen Guanjun, vice president of AVIC I's Department of Marketing and International Cooperation, said several customers from India, Thailand and other countries had shown great interest in their products on the opening day of the exhibition.

China's first self-developed regional aircraft ARJ21 completed the specific design and started manufacturing in April 2006. AVIC I and the Lao Airlines signed a Memorandum of Understanding of twoARJ21 jets, which marked a milestone for the exportation of China self-made aircraft.

AVIC I has exported MA60 to 10 countries since 2004, with overseas orders of 98 aircraft in total.

The Asian Aerospace International Expo and Congress 2007, being held at Asia World-Expo in Hong Kong from Sept. 3 to 6, has attracted around 500 exhibitors from more than 20 countries.