Satisfying its ever-burgeoning demand for air transportation, China will purchase more than 1,900 aircraft by 2020, the government said yesterday.

Zhang Yunchuan, minister of the State Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence 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 per cent.

China's aviation industry turnover reached 16 billion-ton kilometres in 2002, up 15 per cent from last year.

 "By 2020, it will reach 84 billion-ton kilometers, ranking among the top three in the world,'' said Yang.

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