Large aircraft remain key part of Xi’s aviation strategy

The development of high-quality, large aircraft remains one of the key ingredients of China’s latest five-year planning. The aircraft should be safe, with a focus on design and the supply chain. The civil aviation industry was specifically mentioned by General Secretary Xi Jinping during last week’s 20^th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party. Large aircraft remain key part of Xi’s aviation strategy.

COMAC, which has been tasked with developing China’s commercial aircraft strategy, shared some details of Xi’s presentation on its website. In often verbose language, the reports describe how COMAC staff was watching Xi’s opening speech, sitting in a hangar in Shanghai next to a C919 in the final assembly and at other sites.

“In the report of the 20th National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that major achievements have been made in the manufacture of large aircraft. When meeting with representatives of the C919 project team, it was emphasized that safety and reliability should be put first and all potential safety hazards should be eliminated. It is necessary to deeply understand the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important instructions on the quality and safety of large aircraft, view quality and safety from a political height, and always regard safety and quality as a top priority”, as the statement said on October 18.