China Focus: China becomes new "engine" for world's aviation industry

ZHUHAI, Nov. 3  -- On Wednesday, China's Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) and Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) revealed their latest progress in a joint venture to develop a long-range wide-body aircraft.

According to UAC President Yury Slyusar, the UAC will be responsible for the development of the wings, while COMAC will be in charge of the fuselage.

"We value very much on self-made commercial aircraft and we need capable partners to achieve that. China has the ability, as we can see from the successful development of their ARJ21 and C919 aircraft," said Slyusar in an interview with Xinhua.

From merely a supplier of aircraft components to a partner that designs and manufactures the aircraft, China is playing a bigger role in the world's aviation market.

At the ongoing 11th China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, south China's Guangdong Province, a number of international products on display involve some "China elements."

The Airbus A350, for example, involves a number of patented technologies developed by Chinese engineers. According to Airbus, Chinese companies manufactured 5 percent of the aircraft.

"Airbus created A350 together with China," said Chen Juming, president of Airbus China. "Airbus showed its commitment in cooperating with China by allowing Chinese engineers to participate."

On Tuesday, Honeywell announced that it would work with Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC) on a number of initiatives concerning aircraft engines. Steven Lien, president of Honeywell Aerospace Asia Pacific, described the cooperation as "expertise sharing."

"Honeywell has been an important industry player in the development of engines since 1953," he said. "This agreement between Honeywell and AECC is a new way to share expertise and explore new opportunities."

Besides sharing its technical know-how to global aviation giants, China is also playing a bigger role contributing to the industry's growth. On Tuesday, Boeing signed an agreement with COMAC to expand their joint research collaboration in support of the long-term sustainable growth of commercial aviation.

Through the new agreement signed at the Zhuhai Airshow, the companies will explore research in areas such as sustainable aviation fuel and better recycling of materials.

"Boeing and COMAC are expanding our efforts to ensure commercial aviation's long-term sustainable growth, improve its efficiency and reduce environmental impact," said Ian Chang, vice president of supplier management China operations and business development at Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

In the future, Boeing would like to deal with Chinese companies in a broader scope, said John Bruns, president of Boeing China.

"Almost every Boeing aircraft in service globally has some 'made in China' element," he said. "We can clearly see that how much progress that China's aviation industry has made."