China's first independently developed commercial regional jet, the ARJ-21, will receive foreign orders this year, said its chief designer Wu Guanghui on Tuesday.

"ARJ-21 is highly competitive in its performance on overseas markets," said Wu, a member of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's political advisory body.

"In the coming 20 years, world demand for jets with 70 to 100 seats is at least 3,000, while on domestic market, the demand would be no less than 1,000," he estimated.

A total of 171 ARJ-21 jets have been ordered domestically, and China is holding talks with foreign customers, said Wu, adding that the potential users are from Asia, Europe and America.

ARJ-21, short for "Advanced Regional Jet for the 21st Century," features safety and low price. The first homegrown ARJ-21 jet, with 90 seats, rolled off the production line in Shanghai Aircraft Manufacturing Factory on Dec. 21, 2007.

Experts believe that the jet is expected to give China "a late but powerful presence" in its commercial aviation market, which has been dominated by foreign aircraft manufacturers such as Boeing and Airbus. The craft will also pave the way for the country's development of jumbo aeroplane.

"It was designed especially for the western regions of China, such as Kunming, capital of the southwestern Yunnan province, where the airport is seated at an altitude of 2,000 meters," said Wu.

He suggested that the government subsidize construction of airports in central and western China, draft favorable policies for aviation companies flying regional jets, and support research and development of regional jets like ARJ-21.

(Xinhua News Agency March 5, 2008)