Aviation industry requires private firms to take off

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China's aviation industry must encourage more private enterprises to promote the development of large jetliners, said an industry leader.

"It takes a long time and a solid industrial foundation for a nation's civil aircraft industry to grow up and become strong. A huge investment, planning and management resolve are helpful, but they are far from enough to build a real, large airliner," Zhang Hui, executive vice-president of AVIC International Holding Corp, told China Daily in an exclusive interview.