China will build a low-speed wind tunnel in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, to facilitate the country's research and development of aircraft.

The wind tunnel, believed to be the largest of its kind in Asia, will be developed by the Harbin Aerodynamics Research Institute at a cost of 80 million yuan (9.6 million US dollars).

A source with the institute said the tunnel, scheduled for completion in 2004, will be used for aerodynamic testing of both military and civilian aircraft when they are flying at a lower speed.

The facility will make China comparable to developed countries in terms of low-speed wind tunnel testing, the source said.