China gears up for major exhibitions
TWO major exhibitions on airports and aviation in China are fast approaching.
In October, the Aviation Expo-China '93 will be held in Beijing, involving 500 large corporations from 22 countries.
Due to restructuring within the Ministry of Aerospace, numerous enterprises and factories have gained greater freedom in dealing with foreign companies.
More than 90 per cent of the acquisitions of transport aircraft made by CAAC, the Chinese national airline, have been within the past few years.
The Aviation Expo will also include introductions of space and military rockets, by the Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) and China Precision Machinery I/E Corporation (CPMIEC).
In November next year, the South China and Hongkong Airport and Aviation Expo '94 will be held in Guangzhou.
Overall, China possesses the fastest growing aviation industry in the world. Domestic air traffic could reach 43 billion passenger kilometres by the year 2000.
This represents a dramatic increase from the 7.88 billion passenger kilometres recorded in 1985.
Numerous aviation projects throughout China are scheduled to start this year, including 10 new airports, with four in southern China alone. Upgrades to existing facilities are also in the pipeline.
In Hua Xian, Guangdong province, a major international airport has been planned for construction.
It is scheduled for completion in 1997 and will be about 28 kilometres from the city centre of Guangzhou.
The new airport will comprise two main runways with a possible expansion to four.
A second terminal is planned for Shenzhen airport, with construction likely to start in 1994.
The Shenzhen area is one of the most prosperous in the country and has become increasingly crowded.
Two new airports are planned for Zhuhai and Macau.
Private sector involvement in these and many related projects is expected to be strong.
