Senior Chinese Official: Industry Isn't Keeping Up With Changing Demands

As Chinese officials get ready to parade their aviation wares at one of the biggest air shows in Asia, they're also talking about reforming the country's sagging civilian aviation sector in hopes of boosting competition and accommodating an economy that's on fuego.

Now, China's Vice Minister for Civil Aviation, Gao Hongfeng, says, since China has joined the World Trade Organization, it has agreed to open the aviation market to foreigners.

"At present personnel training, infrastructure and management cannot match the fast growth of air transport, and this problem is becoming more and more serious," Gao said. "Air transport still suffers the imbalance between eastern and western regions... relevant laws and regulations are not complete; air transport enterprises still do not have strong international competitiveness," he said.

By improving domestic air services and teaming up with foreign airlines, Gao predicted "in the coming 10 years China's civil aviation industry will make substantial progress."

China is staging its massive Fifth China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition this week, demonstrating its technical advances in aviation and aerospace and hosting delegations from other countries around the world.

FMI: www.china.org.cn/english/BAT/110501.htm