Suppliers wanted for wide-body passenger airplane

China is seeking suppliers to develop its own wide-body passenger plane over the next decade, according to industry executives, expanding its ambitions and rivalry with Boeing and Airbus.

The proposed aircraft - tentatively called the C929 - would be the State-backed Commercial Aircraft Corp of China's largest, say suppliers that have held discussions with the firm.

It would be a substantial advance on the smaller 158-to 168-seater narrow-body C919 it is developing and the 78-to 90-seater ARJ21 regional jet that is undergoing test flights.